If you’re in the creative writing field, you’ve probably stumbled upon the writing tip ‘show, don’t tell,’ but what exactly does that entail?

‘Showing’ instead of ‘telling’ prioritizes writing that presents your plot and characters through action instead of exposition. That is, instead of directly stating how a character feels or how a scenario played out, you use words and phrases that allow your reader to naturally arrive at your intended conclusion. This prompts your readers to organically get to know your characters and become imaginatively immersed in your plot. Most of all, it makes for an elevated reading experience where the reader is an active participant in your writing’s visual and thematic development.

That said, here are some examples of how ‘showing’ can improve your reader’s immersion in your work:

First, characterization. It’s easy to describe a character and their emotions by using exposition and simply telling the reader “He was happy he got a new puppy” or “She’s wearing a long dress today / She’s always running late.” But you can easily show the reader the same ideas, for instance:

“His eyes lit up as the puppy bounded out of the car and leaped into his arms. As the dog wagged its tail and wiggled with excitement, he knew he had just found his new best friend.”

Or,

“She lifted her dress as she bounded up the stairs, taking multiple steps at a time. She couldn’t miss this interview – not again.”

Adding a few more words to your descriptions can serve to accelerate the plot and actively engage your reader. Getting to know someone through their actions mimics interactions in real life and implementing the same phenomenon through your writing can prompt a connection between the reader and the writing that couldn’t develop otherwise. The first example shows the character’s happiness without having to bluntly lay it out. The second example combines the woman’s characteristic tendency to be late while describing her appearance, therefore subtlety contributing to the story’s plot and visual components.  

You can also develop characterization through dialogue. For example, instead of saying, “She was often shy and avoided social settings,” you can naturally establish this character’s disposition through a conversation that may read something like:

“Hey, Mary! Long time no see. What have you been up to for, say, the past four years?”

“Um, not too much.” She exhaled; eyes glued to the floor. “I graduated and have been, you know, working…” She trailed off.

“Oh, that’s great to hear! What’s the job?”

“Working from home, I like it a lot.” She paused, then stammered, “I, uh, I have to go… use the bathroom, but it was good seeing you,” and hurried off in the opposite direction of the large hanging sign reading ‘Restrooms.’

Instead of blatantly stating a character’s interpersonal traits, you can establish characterization through interactions with other characters. This trick also allows the reader to feel like they’re gradually getting to know the character, which does wonders for a reader’s engagement.

Overall, ‘showing’ instead of ‘telling’ is a great way to elevate your writing and keep your readers actively involved in your work.