How to Show and Tell in Fiction

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:ShowTellFiction

Story Highlights

Introduction When writing fiction, you've been told to "show, don't tell." You want to

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Introduction

When writing fiction, you've been told to "show, don't tell." You want to create a scenes that readers can emotionally respond to. Showing an action, such as describing a tidal wave threatening a boat, is usually more effective than having two characters discuss the event. There are other times when it is appropriate to tell, although your reader may have little or no response. Let's look at both ways.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Steps

1

Step One

Tell when something is an established fact. Tables are usually made of wood, so there is no need to detail the table to the reader.
2

Step Two

Show when there is something unusual. If there is something unusual about the table, perhaps it is made of marble or one of the legs is shorter than the other three, then you would describe or show it.
3

Step Three

Tell if you've already mentioned the wobbly wood or marble table earlier, and you need to remind your reader of it. There is no need to continue to detail something the reader already knows. Just remind them of the table and its location.
4

Step Four

Show when creating a mood. Instead of telling the reader that there is tension in a room between lovers, show them. Did they avoid each other's eyes? Did they fidget? Did he stare at her, and she looked away? Perhaps she was the one staring. Showing builds tension and anticipation.
5

Step Five

Tell when summarizing. Summarize when your reader needs to understand the following scene, but the summarized information is not important enough to warrant its own scene. You need this information to bridge the gap between the two scenes.
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