One of the most common pieces of writing advice is show, don’t tell.
It’s a neat little phrase. But you might wonder what exactly the “show don’t tell” rule means, and why it matters. After all, you’re telling a story … is that so
bad? And what does it look like when you’re showing vs telling?
We’re going to dig deep into what the “show don’t tell” rule means, when to follow it (and when not to), and how authors use both showing and telling effectively in their work.
What Is the “Show Don’t Tell” Rule?
The “show, don’t tell” writing rule is a common piece of advice for writers to show something, often with vivid details and examples, rather than simply telling the reader about it through summary or bare facts.
Here’s a quick example.
Telling: Jane was tired today.
Showing: Jane yawned and rubbed her eyes. “Coffee,” she mumbled. “I need coffee.”
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