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Authors often have different definitions of "show" and "tell." I define "tell" as any point in the story where an important moment lacks depth in terms of detail or narrative style. However, telling can also be an excellent tool for controlling the pace of the story and conveying important information.
In this video, I explain the origins of this advice and why "showing" appeals to audiences on an emotional level. Using examples from popular works and advice from published authors, I'll outline six strategies you can use to write more persuasive copy:
1. Support your claims with evidence.
2. Replace the abstract with the concrete.
3. Replace vague descriptions with specific sensory details.
4. Don’t rely too much on body language.
5. Show emotions through dialogues.
6. Filter observations through the narrative voice.
You can read a text version of this video on Medium: https://quotidianwriter.medium.com/how-to-show-not-tell-the-complete-writing-guide-45cb72f02541
Do you like my channel? Then invite me for a cup of coffee at https://ko-fi.com/quotidianwriter.
Behind the scenes notes on this video: https://www.ko-fi.com/post/Behind-the-Scenes-How-to-Show-Not-Tell-C0C32BTG3
My published stories and poems: https://www.quotidianwriter.com/my-writing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/QuotidianWriter
Title and credits music:
“Clockwork” by Vindsvept – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v9Zl4EGLoiI8&t83s
Background music by Vindsvept:
"Enlighten"
"The fairy"
“Wildkin Glade”
"Hiding Place"
“The Forgotten Forest”
“Lake of Light”
“Winter Day”
SOURCES
“The Clues to a Great Story” TED Talk by Andrew Stanton:
https://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_stanton_the_clues_to_a_great_story#t-393892
“Creative Writing and the New Humanities” by Paul Dawson:
https://books.google.com/books?idr2NNKUlOAXUC&printsecfrontcover&sourcegbs_ge_summary_r&cad0#vonepage&qflaubert%20onward&ffalse
“The Art of Fiction” by Percy Lubbock:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18961/18961-h/18961-h.htm
“The Most Important Thing: ‘Thought’ Verbs” by Chuck Palahniuk:
https://litreactor.com/essays/chuck-palahniuk/nuts-and-bolts-“thought”-verbs
Blog with help for writing novels by Harvey Chapman:
https://www.novel-writing-help.com/prose-writing.html#sthash.byLAq4vA.dpuf
“How Novelists Can Effectively Depict Their Characters’ Emotions” by Robin Patchen:
http://www.livewritethrive.com/2015/06/24/how-fiction-writers-can-show-emotions-in-their-characters-in-efficient-ways/
“Show, Don’t Tell: What You Need to Know” by Jerry Jenkins:
https://jerryjenkins.com/show-dont-tell/
Gail Carson Levine’s blog:
https://gailcarsonlevine.com/blog/2017/02/01/lachrymose-lugubriousness/
Delilah Dawson's Twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/DelilahSDawson/status/1086657712518299650
Stewie writes:
http://www.stewiewrites.com
More great literary examples on Reedsy:
https://blog.reedsy.com/show-dont-tell/
“Understanding Show, Don't Tell: (And Really Getting It)” by Janice Hardy:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0BE4UP/refdp-kindle-redirect?_encodingUTF8&btkr1
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Character Expression by Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MTQ7W6Q/refx_gr_w_bb_glide_sin?ieUTF8&tagx_gr_w_bb_glide_sin-20&linkCodeas2&camp1789&creative9325&creativeASINB07MTQ7W6Q&SubscriptionId1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
Introduction (0:00)
The origins of “Show, don’t tell” (3:53)
1. Support your claims with evidence (5:38)
2. Replace the abstract with the concrete (7:20)
3. Replace vague descriptions with details (10:09)
4. Don’t rely too much on body language (12:09)
5. Show emotions through dialogues (15:32)
6. Filtering observations through the narrative voice (17:51)
Summary (21:51)
Writing exercise (26:00)
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