Don’t tell me what your protagonist is feeling, invoke that emotion in me.

A gripping story doesn’t tell your reader how to feel. It makes them feel it. That’s the power of show, don’t tell—the cardinal rule of storytelling that separates mundane scribbles from memorable fiction.

But why is showing so crucial, and how do you do it well without turning your prose into an endless scenic description? Let’s break it down into 4 key insights.

Telling is Lazy, Showing is Immersive

When you write “John was angry,” you’re telling your reader the emotion. But when John slams his fist on the table, his jaw tightens, and his eyes narrow, you’re showing it.

Telling is efficient. Showing makes the reader live the scene. The former puts you in control; the latter hands control to the reader’s imagination.

Action Speaks Louder Than Adverbs

Writers often fall into the trap of telling through adverbs: “She said angrily,” “He walked slowly.” Instead, replace adverbs with sharp actions.

Example: Instead of “She said angrily,” write “She threw the letter across the room.” It’s more visceral, concrete, and far more engaging.

Let Sensory Detail Do the Heavy Lifting

A good “show” scene doesn’t describe everything; it selects details that evoke mood.

Instead of writing “The garden was beautiful,” you could write:

“Roses climbed the fence like determined climbers, their scent heavy in the air. A lone bee buzzed past a wilted daisy.”

This invites the reader to experience the garden rather than just read about it.

Dialogue is Showing Goldmine

Dialogue isn’t just characters talking—it’s a chance to show personality, tension, subtext, and conflict. Instead of writing:
“Mark was sad about losing the job.”

Show it:

“Mark tapped his pen against the desk. ‘Guess I’ll have to rethink life plans.’ he muttered to himself, his brows knotted.”

Readers infer his despair without you spelling it out.

The Big Takeaway

Showing is about trust. Trust your readers to piece things together. Let actions, dialogue, and sensory details work together to pull them in. The goal isn’t to tell them what happened, but to make them feel what happened.

Show don’t tell requires a change of mindset. All our life we have ‘told’ stories. The emotion was invoked by our body-language, facial expression and hand-gestures. In person (or cinematic) storytelling is different to

This week’s Pen to Print Hour is special!

Join us at The Write Place for an exclusive session with an award-winning bestselling author of seven self-published books. They’ll answer your burning questions about writing, editing, and publishing and share insider tips you won’t want to miss.

And don’t forget our two-day Story Clinic workshop this Tue & Wed, 6:30–8pm. Leave a comment below or contact me for details.

Mother of three adult humans. An idealistic, outspoken woman of scrupulous integrity, in love with words. A storyteller who enjoys crocheting tales. And a passionate bibliophile, of course.