SHOW, DONT TELL

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SHOW, DONT TELL
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SHOW, DONT TELL

• Dont TELL your readers what is happening, SHOW
  them! Write so that your reader can create a
  mental picture of the action
• Telling example
• The hallway was crowded.
• Showing example
• As I tried to walk down the hall, I had to dodge
  students coming straight at me from the other
  direction. At the same time, my heels were being
  stepped on by the students pushing from behind.
  We were like cattle being herded to the pasture!

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SHOW, DONT TELL

• Dont TELL your readers about a character in your
  story, SHOW them! Write so that your reader can
  create a mental picture of the person
• Telling example
• Dally Winston was mean and wild.
• Showing example
• He had an elfish face, with high cheekbones and a
  pointed chin, small, sharp animal teeth, and ears
  like a lynx. His eyes were blue, blazing ice,
  cold with a hatred of the world. He had spent
  three years on the wild side of New York and had
  been arrested at the age of ten. The shade of
  difference that separates a greaser from a hood
  wasnt present in Dally. They have a file on him
  down at the police station. He had been arrested,
  got drunk, rode in rodeos, lied, cheated, stole,
  rolled drunks, jumped small kids he did
  everything.

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SHOW, DONT TELL

• Showing tips
• Use dialogue It allows the reader to experience
  the scene. It tunes the reader into the tone
  mood of the situation.
• Use sensory words Your reader needs to be able
  to see, hear, taste, feel, smell your
  description.
• Use figurative language Similes metaphors
  help to create an image.
• Avoid linking verbs felt, seemed, tasted,
  appeared, to be words. Instead, show what it
  felt or tasted like!

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NOW, YOU TRY.
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SHOW, DONT TELL

• My room was a mess!
• He has terrible table manners!
• It was the best party Ive ever been to!
• My best friend is great!
• The cafeteria was in a state of chaos!