Show Don't Tell

To make the story longer

To help readers visualize and experience the story

To use more adjectives

To summarize the main events

Vivid description

Actions

Dialogue

Sensory detail

Sight (See)

Sound (Hear)

Smell

Taste

A telling statement simply states facts without sensory details, while a showing statement uses sensory details and actions to create vivid imagery.

A telling statement uses more adjectives, while a showing statement uses more verbs.

A telling statement is always longer than a showing statement.

A telling statement is used only in fiction, while a showing statement is used in non-fiction.

I yawned

I clapped my hands and giggled

I put on a jacket and rubbed my hands together

I clenched my fists and stomped my feet

James stormed out of the room.

That’s it! James shouted. Standing, he shoved his chair in, its legs scraping against the yellowed linoleum flooring with a shriek that made me wince. Behind me, the door slammed, a splinter of wood falling to the ground from the impact.

She had been crying.

Her eyes were puffy, and red-rimmed. Dried streaks ran down her face, leaving discolored patches on her makeup.

She laughed.

"And then he went—he went—" Maria shook her head, her laughter so hard she couldn’t get the words out. Holding up a hand, she tried to catch her breath. "He went head over heels over the chair!" she howled, clutching her sides.

He was cold.

"I'm freezing," he said, shivering and wrapping his jacket tightly around himself.

By allowing the reader to understand the thoughts of the protagonist

By providing straightforward information and facts

By creating suspense and mystery

By using emotional dialogue tags