Show Don't Tell — A Writing Guide with Examples

“Show, don’t tell” is the most common advice given to writers. Here’s what it actually means and how to do it.

Telling vs Showing

Telling states a fact. Showing creates an experience.

Telling	Showing
He was nervous.	He tapped his foot under the table and wiped his palms on his trousers.
The room was messy.	Clothes covered the chair. A half-eaten pizza sat on the desk.
She was angry.	Her jaw tightened. She spoke through clenched teeth.
It was cold outside.	Frost covered the windows. Each breath formed a small cloud.

How to Show Emotions

Anger

Telling: He was furious. Showing: His face reddened. His hands curled into fists at his sides, and when he spoke, his voice was dangerously quiet.

Sadness

Telling: She felt sad. Showing: She stared out the window without seeing anything. Her tea sat untouched, growing cold.

Fear

Telling: He was scared. Showing: The hair on his arms stood up. He glanced over his shoulder for the third time in as many minutes.

How to Show Character Traits

Generosity

Telling: Sarah was generous. Showing: Sarah slid a twenty-dollar bill across the counter. “Get something for yourself too,” she said to the cashier.

Arrogance

Telling: Mark was arrogant. Showing: Mark leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. “I’m sure you did your best, but let me show you how it’s really done.”

When to Tell Instead

Showing takes more words. Sometimes telling is better:

Transition scenes — “Three weeks later…”
Minor details — “He wore a blue shirt.”
Repetitive action — “She checked her email every morning.”
Pacing — A fast-paced action scene needs direct statements

Good writing mixes both. Show the important moments. Tell the rest.

Exercise: Rewrite These

Try rewriting these telling statements as showing:

“The classroom was boring.”
“He was exhausted.”
“They were in love.”
“The food was delicious.”

More writing help: Check our Pride and Prejudice annotations for examples of showing in classic literature.