Show, Don’t Tell! The 1st Rule of Creative Writing

Every writing student has heard the rule that you should show, not tell, but this principle seems to be among the hardest for beginners to master. First, what's the difference between the two? ” Telling" is the reliance on simple exposition: Mary was an old woman. "Showing," on the other hand, is the use of “ GOLDEN DETAILS ” : Mary moved slowly across the room, her hunched form supported by a polished wooden cane gripped in a gnarled, swollen-jointed hand that was covered by translucent, liver-spotted skin. Every writing student has heard the rule that you should show, not tell, but this principle seems to be among the hardest for beginners to master. First, what's the difference between the two? ” Telling" is the reliance on simple exposition: Mary was an old woman. "Showing," on the other hand, is the use of “ GOLDEN DETAILS ” : Mary moved slowly across the room, her hunched form supported by a polished wooden cane gripped in a gnarled, swollen-jointed hand that was covered by translucent, liver-spotted skin.

Both showing and telling convey the same information - Mary is old - but the former simply states it flat-out, and the latter never actually states that fact at all, and yet nonetheless leaves no doubt about it in the reader's mind. Why is showing better? Two reasons. Both showing and telling convey the same information - Mary is old - but the former simply states it flat-out, and the latter never actually states that fact at all, and yet nonetheless leaves no doubt about it in the reader's mind. Why is showing better? Two reasons.

First, it creates mental pictures for the reader. When reviewers use terms like "vivid," "evocative," or "cinematic" to describe a piece of prose, they really mean the writer has succeeded at showing, rather than merely telling. Second, showing is interactive and participatory: it forces the reader to become involved in the story, deducing facts (such as Mary's age) for himself or herself, rather than just taking information in passively. First, it creates mental pictures for the reader. When reviewers use terms like "vivid," "evocative," or "cinematic" to describe a piece of prose, they really mean the writer has succeeded at showing, rather than merely telling. Second, showing is interactive and participatory: it forces the reader to become involved in the story, deducing facts (such as Mary's age) for himself or herself, rather than just taking information in passively.

Show, Don't Tell. Yeah, that sounds easy, but what, exactly, does show mean? Let's look at an example: Carey ate breakfast, then he took a shower and went to the store. At the store he met a girl and they talked for a long time. Carey liked her but she blew him off. Then he went home. Show, Don't Tell. Yeah, that sounds easy, but what, exactly, does show mean? Let's look at an example: Carey ate breakfast, then he took a shower and went to the store. At the store he met a girl and they talked for a long time. Carey liked her but she blew him off. Then he went home.

Tells you a lot about Carey, huh? Okay -- so this example is really exaggerated, but it hits home the necessity of showing and not telling. What can we do to fix it? We need more golden detail, especially dialogue and action. Consider: Tells you a lot about Carey, huh? Okay -- so this example is really exaggerated, but it hits home the necessity of showing and not telling. What can we do to fix it? We need more golden detail, especially dialogue and action. Consider:

Carey studied the frozen dinners. He'd had turkey and dressing for the last four days, so salisbury steak would be good for a change. But did he want the Big Man's or the regular?A scent teased his nose. Not the overwhelming smell of fish and frostbite, but a fresh smell, like the smell of skin just out of the shower. He glanced sideways and saw the most perfect arm he'd ever seen in his life. Long, slender, graceful, full of sinewy muscle and smooth skin. His eyes followed the arm to the shoulder and then the head. Her head. A head covered with long blond hair and containing a face that made his heart stop. "Hi," she said, her voice rich and melodious. Carey's mouth didn't work. He tried to return her greeting, but only a grunt came out. He tried to smile politely, but his face erupted with a grin as large and toothy and goofy as a cartoon character's... Carey studied the frozen dinners. He'd had turkey and dressing for the last four days, so salisbury steak would be good for a change. But did he want the Big Man's or the regular?A scent teased his nose. Not the overwhelming smell of fish and frostbite, but a fresh smell, like the smell of skin just out of the shower. He glanced sideways and saw the most perfect arm he'd ever seen in his life. Long, slender, graceful, full of sinewy muscle and smooth skin. His eyes followed the arm to the shoulder and then the head. Her head. A head covered with long blond hair and containing a face that made his heart stop. "Hi," she said, her voice rich and melodious. Carey's mouth didn't work. He tried to return her greeting, but only a grunt came out. He tried to smile politely, but his face erupted with a grin as large and toothy and goofy as a cartoon character's...

Show, Don’t Tell! 1. School is boring. 2. The math test was hard. 3. The party was great. 4. He looked guilty. 1. School is boring. 2. The math test was hard. 3. The party was great. 4. He looked guilty.