Ever read a book that made you feel everything? Like you were right there, feeling the tension, the heartbreak, or the joy? That’s because the writer showed you instead of telling you.
And then there are the books that feel like a grocery list.
- She was mad.
- The room was dark.
- It was a cold night.
Snore.
“Show, don’t tell” is the golden rule of writing that turns boring statements into vivid, immersive experiences. It’s the difference between “He was nervous” and “His hands shook as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.”
One makes you feel it. The other? Meh.
Why “Show, Don’t Tell” Matters
Ever watched a movie where the character just stands there and says, “I’m very sad” instead of breaking down in tears or staring blankly at the wall? I’m sure you’ll agree, that would make for some terrible filmmaking.
The same thing applies to writing. Readers don’t want to be spoon-fed emotions or descriptions. They want to experience them.
Think about your favorite book. Does the author just tell you things straight up, or do they make you see it, feel it, hear it?
That’s the magic.
And you can do it too.
Let’s break it down.
1. Show Emotion Through Actions
Telling: She was angry.
Showing: Her fingers curled into fists. Her face turned red. She took a deep breath through her nose, like a bull about to charge.
Which one makes you feel the heat?
Readers don’t need to be told she’s mad. They can tell by what she does.
Think about how people behave when they’re upset. They slam doors, cross their arms, grind their teeth. Use that.
Try this:
Instead of: He was nervous about his speech.
Write: He adjusted his tie for the tenth time and cleared his throat, his voice cracking when he finally spoke.
See the difference?
2. Use the Five Senses
You have five senses—use them!
Instead of just telling readers what’s happening, let them see it, hear it, smell it.
Telling: The kitchen smelled good.
Showing: The warm scent of cinnamon and fresh-baked bread filled the air, wrapping around her like a hug.
Now you can smell it, right?
If you’re writing about a rainy night, don’t just say it was raining. Show how the rain feels against the skin, how it sounds on the roof, how it turns the streetlights into blurry halos.
Readers want to be there.
3. Let Dialogue Do Some Heavy Lifting
People show emotions when they talk. They don’t usually say, “I am feeling very sad right now.”
Telling: He was furious.
Showing through dialogue: “Oh, so that’s how it is?” His voice was sharp, clipped. “You didn’t even think to tell me?”
Now we know he’s mad—without you ever saying it.
4. Paint a Picture with Specific Details
Vague writing is the enemy of show, don’t tell. If your sentence could apply to anything, it’s not doing its job.
Let’s say you’re describing a character’s room.
Telling: Her room was messy.
Showing: A half-eaten slice of pizza balanced on top of a stack of clothes. A coffee mug, now a science experiment, sat next to her laptop. She kicked aside a pile of mismatched socks to make a path to the bed.
Now we see it. And let’s be real, we’ve been there.
The more specific you are, the more real your writing feels.
Telling: It was a beautiful sunset.
Showing: The sky burned with streaks of orange and pink, the sun sinking behind the hills like it was being swallowed whole.
See the difference? One is a vague statement. The other is a scene.
5. Cut the Lazy Adverbs
Adverbs can be sneaky little cheats. They let you tell instead of show.
Telling: She spoke angrily.
Showing: She slammed her hand on the table. “Are you kidding me?”
Telling: He walked quickly.
Showing: He weaved through the crowd, dodging shoulders and barely touching the ground with each step.
Adverbs (quickly, angrily, sadly) are shortcuts. They tell the reader what’s happening instead of letting them experience it.
Sure, sometimes they’re fine. But most of the time? Cut ‘em.
6. Use Internal Thoughts to Show, Not Tell
Sometimes the most powerful moments happen inside a character’s head.
Telling: She felt embarrassed.
Showing: Her cheeks burned. Why did she say that? Stupid. So, so stupid.
By letting us hear her thoughts, we feel her embarrassment.
Imagine if Harry Potter told us everything he was feeling instead of letting us experience it through his thoughts, his dialogue, and his actions. It would be a snoozefest.
Instead, we feel his frustration when Snape humiliates him, we sense his fear when Voldemort is near, and we celebrate when he finally gets to live with Sirius (for like, five minutes).
Let your readers inside your characters’ heads.
7. Trust Your Readers
This is a big one.
You don’t have to explain everything. Readers are smart. They can figure things out on their own.
Telling: She clenched her fists in anger.
Showing: She clenched her fists.
We know she’s angry. You don’t have to spell it out.
Over-explaining ruins the magic. Let readers connect the dots.
If you write, “He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans before stepping onto the stage,” we know he’s nervous. You don’t need to add, “He felt nervous.”
Less is more.
8. Show the World Through a Character’s Eyes
Every character sees the world differently.
A detective walking into a diner doesn’t just see a diner—he sees the shifty guy in the corner, the scuff marks on the floor, the waitress eyeing the exit like she’s ready to bolt.
A kid in the same diner? They see the massive stack of pancakes at the next table and the claw machine full of prizes they absolutely NEED right now.
Instead of just describing a setting, filter it through your character’s perspective.
Telling: The hotel was fancy.
Showing (through a broke college student’s POV): Even the air smelled expensive. Like fresh linen and subtle judgment.
Every character should notice things that matter to them. It makes your writing feel real.
9. Make Your Readers Feel It
Writing isn’t just about painting a picture—it’s about making people feel.
Want to show heartbreak? Make the reader ache.
Telling: She was heartbroken.
Showing: She stared at her phone, rereading the message. Five words. That was it. Five words that cracked her ribs and hollowed out her chest.
Want to show fear? Make it physical.
Telling: He was scared.
Showing: His breath came too fast. His heartbeat pounded in his ears like a drum solo gone wrong.
If the reader feels it, you’ve done your job.
10. Use Objects to Show Emotion
Sometimes, it’s the little things that hit the hardest.
Instead of telling us how someone feels, show it through what they do with everyday objects.
Telling: She missed him.
Showing: She traced her fingers over the old coffee mug he left behind, the one with the chipped handle. She still refused to drink from it.
Boom. Emotion. No “she felt sad” required.
Want to show guilt? Maybe a character keeps avoiding looking at a photo on the wall.
Want to show nostalgia? Maybe they flip through an old yearbook and laugh a little too long at something that isn’t that funny.
Objects can carry weight. Use them.
11. Let the Setting Do the Work
Sometimes, your setting can show emotion for you.
Telling: The house was abandoned.
Showing: The front porch sagged. The windows stared, empty and cracked. Weeds swallowed the sidewalk like nature was trying to erase the place.
The setting shows the loneliness. No need to spell it out.
Want to show excitement? The buzz of a crowd, the smell of buttery popcorn, the neon glow of a carnival ride does the work for you.
Instead of saying, “She was nervous to meet him,” show her standing outside a café, checking her reflection in the window, tapping her foot, watching the door like it might swallow her whole.
Let the world around the character speak.
12. Avoid Info-Dumping – Let the Reader Discover
Nobody likes sitting through a history lecture when they just came for the action.
Telling: John was an ex-detective who quit after his last case went horribly wrong. Now he runs a coffee shop, trying to forget the past.
Boring. That’s a Wikipedia entry.
Showing: John still carried himself like a cop. Always sitting with his back to the wall. Always noticing the smallest details. He poured coffee with hands that had once handled crime scene photos. Hands that still trembled when he thought about the case that made him walk away.
See? No info-dump. Just little clues. The reader picks up on it themselves.
Let the audience discover things instead of dumping it all at once. It’s way more satisfying.
13. Don’t Forget the Action
Sometimes, showing isn’t about emotions. It’s about movement.
If your character is in a fight scene, don’t just say:
Telling: He threw a punch and knocked the guy down.
That’s flat. Make us feel it.
Showing: His fist smashed into the guy’s jaw. A crack. A grunt. The man stumbled back, dazed, blinking like he was trying to remember how gravity worked.
Much better.
Action scenes should be fast. Short, punchy sentences. Keep things moving.
14. Show Growth Over Time
Good stories don’t just show a moment—they show change.
Let’s say your character starts off shy. Don’t just tell us they’ve grown.
Telling: She used to be nervous speaking in public, but now she’s confident.
Yawn.
Showing: She stepped onto the stage. No shaky hands this time. No deep breaths. Just a smile, easy and natural. When she spoke, the words didn’t run from her—they rolled off her tongue, smooth as butter.
We see the change. We feel it. And that’s what makes it powerful.
15. Read It Out Loud
Want to know if your writing is showing instead of telling? Read it out loud.
If it sounds like you’re just listing facts, it’s probably too much telling.
If it plays like a movie in your head, you’re on the right track.
Final Thoughts
“Show, don’t tell” isn’t about never telling. Sometimes, telling is fine. You don’t need to describe every single detail of someone brushing their teeth.
But when it matters—when you want the reader to feel something—showing wins.
Use actions. Use senses. Use objects. Let your readers experience the moment instead of just hearing about it.
Because the best writing? It doesn’t just tell a story. It puts you inside it.
Now go forth and make your writing sing. 🚀
