We've All Heard "Show, Don't Tell" When You Write. But How Do You Do It?

Every writer has heard “show, don’t tell.” But how do you put it into practice?

It can be tempting, especially when telling the story of your life, to want to tell the reader everything. But what can happen in that case is that you’re just telling the reader everything. You’re far better off showing more and telling less.

For example, instead of writing “I told them why I didn’t think it would be fair, got on the escalator and left,” consider writing…

“That wouldn’t be fair,” I said. “I already paid you.”

They looked at each other and then Bob gazed at me pointedly. “You’re f-ing crazy,” he responded.

I got on the escalator, glanced back once and never looked back.

This is just one example of many about the ways to show and not tell but the quick trick to know if you’re doing it is if you suspect you are, you are. Flesh out. Provide dialogue rather than summaries of conversations. Share the thoughts you were having while whatever you were describing was happening. Really take us into the scene and you’ll be showing and not telling.

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