What Exactly is the Difference Between Show and Tell?
Understanding what Show Vs. Tell really means is your key to inviting your reader into your story.
Of all the fiction-writing rules, “show don’t tell” might be the most ubiquitous. Every writer knows it’s a thing — but it can be confusing and frustrating trying to figure out exactly what it means.
I’m here to help! Let’s start with a couple of definitions.
Show
Writing that ‘shows’ is writing that is in scene. Even in past-tense writing, it’s immediate. It’s happening in the moment.
Imagine your character is headed to an adventure. Writing that shows takes the reader along on the ride. There’s dialogue and action. The reader gets to see what’s happening, rather than just finding out that it did happen.
Here’s an example:
I got behind the wheel and waited for her to close the passenger door. We looked at each other for a long moment. “Are you ready for this?”
She pulled her seatbelt across her body and clicked it in place. “I’m ready.”
We had a list of places that our friend might be. “Let’s start at his house.”
We didn’t talk much on the short drive. It was…
