Showing vs. Telling (With Examples)

If you've spent any time reading writing advice, you've almost certainly heard one phrase repeated over and over:

"Show, don't tell."

It's often presented as one of the fundamental rules of fiction writing. Unfortunately, it's also one of the most misunderstood. Many beginning writers interpret this advice to mean they should never tell the reader anything directly. They begin describing every smile, every footstep, every glance, and every emotion in painstaking detail. The result isn't stronger writing—it's slower writing.

The truth is that great fiction uses both showing and telling. The skill isn't choosing one over the other. It's knowing which tool serves the story best in a given moment. In this lesson, we'll explore what showing and telling really mean, when each technique is appropriate, and how to recognize the difference in your own writing.

What IS Showing vs Telling?

Showing and telling are simply two different ways of communicating information to the reader.

Telling gives information directly.

Sarah was nervous about the interview.

The writer states the fact clearly. The reader immediately understands Sarah's emotional state.

Showing allows the reader to reach that conclusion through observation.

Sarah checked the clock for the fourth time, wiped her palms against her skirt, and rehearsed the first sentence of her introduction under her breath.

Now the reader isn't told she's nervous. They're invited to infer it. Neither version is automatically better. They simply create different reading experiences. Telling communicates information quickly. Showing creates an emotional experience.

Why "Show, Don't Tell" Is Misleading

The phrase itself isn't wrong. It's incomplete. Imagine writing an entire novel using only telling.

John was angry.

The meeting was stressful.

The city was dangerous.

Emily loved her brother.

The reader understands everything intellectually, but experiences almost nothing emotionally. Now imagine the opposite. Every single feeling, action, and thought is shown in exhaustive detail. A character spends three paragraphs making coffee. Every room receives two pages of description. Every conversation includes every pause, every blink, every shrug.

That story becomes exhausting.

Professional writers constantly move between showing and telling depending on what deserves the reader's attention. Showing slows time. Telling speeds it up.

Understanding that balance is one of the biggest steps toward writing more engaging fiction.

When You Should Show

Showing works best when the reader should feel the moment rather than simply understand it. c `These are usually emotionally significant moments.

For example:

Emotional Turning Points

Instead of:

Marcus was devastated by the news.

Try:

Marcus read the letter twice before it slipped from his hands. He stared through the kitchen window long after the sun disappeared, the untouched dinner growing cold beside him.

The second version allows readers to experience the emotion rather than simply receive it.

Conflict

Conflict almost always benefits from showing.

Compare:

The argument was intense.

versus

"You promised!" Emma slammed the folder onto the table. Papers scattered across the floor, but neither of them bent to pick them up.

The second version places readers inside the scene.

Important Character Decisions

Major choices deserve dramatic weight. Readers want to witness moments that permanently change a character's life. Don't summarize those moments. Let them unfold.

Relationships

Relationships become believable through interaction. Rather than telling readers two characters are close friends, show the small habits they've developed together. One finishes the other's sentences. One silently hands over coffee exactly the way the other likes it. Tiny moments often reveal relationships better than direct explanation.

When Telling Is Better

This surprises many writers. Sometimes telling is not only acceptable — It's the better choice.

Passing Time

Imagine showing every day of a six-month journey. Some readers would never reach the actual story. Though it is absolutely possible to write a story where every day is told, or even every hour. But often, summarizing is useful in most stories.

Example:

Winter passed slowly, and by spring the village had nearly forgotten the attack.

One sentence moves the story forward. No scene required.

Background Information

Readers need context. They don't need a dramatic flashback every time.

For example:

David had served in the navy for twelve years before becoming a teacher.

Simple. Efficient. The story continues.

Routine Activities

Readers don't need every sandwich assembled. Every shower described. Every drive to work narrated. Unless something important happens during those moments, it's perfectly acceptable to summarize them. Good pacing depends on deciding which moments deserve attention.

A Side-by-Side Example

Let's look at all three possibilities.

Mostly Telling

Olivia was exhausted after working all day. She was frustrated with her boss and didn't want to go home because she knew another argument with her husband was waiting.

Efficient? Yes. Emotional? Somewhat, but not especially. Mostly showing.

Olivia rubbed her bleary eyes before turning off the office lights. The email from her boss still glowed on her monitor.

'Need this rewritten by tomorrow.'

She laughed once—a short, tired sound as her phone buzzed. She checked it reflexively already knowing who it was and what they'd sent.

''Where are you?'

She stared at the message, weary to her bones that she'd been right, until the screen went dark again.

Now the reader experiences exhaustion and relationship tension firsthand.

After twelve hours at work, Olivia wanted nothing more than sleep. Instead, another message from her husband appeared.

'Where are you?'

She closed her eyes before unlocking the front door.

Notice how the telling establishes the situation quickly, while the showing emphasizes the emotionally important moment.cThis combination is often stronger than relying exclusively on either technique.

Five Signs You're Telling Too Much

• You frequently use emotion labels like happy, sad, angry, or afraid without supporting details.

• Major conflicts are summarized instead of dramatized.

• Important conversations happen "off-screen."

• Characters solve problems between chapters instead of in scenes.

• Readers understand events but don't feel invested in them.

Five Signs You're Showing Too Much

Yes, this happens too. Watch for these warning signs:

• Every action is described in microscopic detail.

• Conversations include unnecessary gestures after every sentence.

• Minor scenes take several pages.

• Readers lose sight of the story because descriptions overwhelm the action.

• Nothing seems to move forward.

Remember that showing creates immersion, and too much showing creates drag.

A Simple Rule to Remember

Ask yourself one question:

Does the reader need to experience this moment, or simply understand it?

If they need to experience it — Show.

If they only need the information — Tell.

That single question can solve most pacing problems and guide you in your decision in showing vs telling in scenes.

Exercise

Take a scene you've already written.

Highlight:

• Every sentence that explains an emotion.

• Every sentence that summarizes conflict.

• Every paragraph that describes routine actions.

Now ask:

• Which emotions deserve to be shown instead?

• Which descriptions could actually be summarized?

• Which scenes should be expanded?

• Which scenes should be shortened?

Rewrite one page using a deliberate balance of both techniques.

Questions to Ask Yourself

• Am I slowing the story with unnecessary detail?

• Am I skipping over emotionally important moments?

• Does every scene deserve to be shown?

• What would happen if I summarized this paragraph?

• What would happen if I dramatized it instead?

Key Takeaways

• "Show, don't tell" is incomplete advice.

• Showing creates emotional immersion.

• Telling creates efficiency and pace.

• Strong fiction uses both techniques intentionally.

• The question isn't whether to show or tell—it's when.

Next in The Writer's Workshop

Writing Dialogue People Actually Read

Great dialogue does more than sound realistic—it reveals character, creates conflict, and keeps readers engaged. In the next lesson, we'll explore why real conversations often make poor fiction, and how to write dialogue that feels authentic while serving the story.