“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” - Anton Chekhov

Showing sets a virtual movie camera onto the scene. You as the writer then record in words exactly what it sees. Best of all, this “camera” can record not only sight but all five senses.

Writing “the house was creepy” is telly. It doesn’t reflect anything the mental camera recorded—it’s an interpretation all by itself.

Use physical details that express how creepy the house is. The shingles are askew and the windows smashed, with pointed shards still clinging to some panes. Cobwebs drape across the porch. Add sounds and smells that send a chill up the reader’s back.

Telling is fine for armatures, but when you need to capture your readers attention use similes, metaphors, and vivid imagery to paint a picture.

Jacob

Substitute “damn” every time you’re inclined to write “very;” your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. - Mark Twain

I used to think that words like “really” and “very” made my writing forceful. I realized how wrong I was when my boss started using the word “deeply” to describe everything. Everything was so “deeply” important or “deeply” urgent that “deeply” lost its meaning. Telling doesn’t improve your writing. It only gets in the way.

Learn more about how to show-not-tell by visiting our online writing lessons.

Jacob