Show, Don’t Tell — Using Description to Bring Writing to Life

Show Don’t Tell

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By Tom Riley

This lesson focuses on improving your writing by replacing flat statements with vivid description. One of the most powerful techniques a writer can learn is “show, don’t tell.” When used well, it allows readers to see, hear, and feel what is happening instead of being told information directly.

Good writing doesn’t just inform the reader—it immerses them.

Introduction

Strong writing does more than deliver information—it creates experience. This lesson focuses on elevating your writing by replacing flat, obvious statements with vivid, purposeful description. At the heart of this skill lies one of the most essential techniques every writer must master: show, don’t tell. When applied effectively, this approach allows readers to see the scene unfold, hear its sounds, and feel its emotions, rather than being told what to think or feel.

Adjectives play a vital role in this process. Used thoughtfully, they transform ordinary sentences into rich, engaging moments by adding color, texture, and emotional depth. They help readers visualize settings, sense mood, and connect more deeply with the story. Rather than simply labeling emotions or conditions, strong adjectives work alongside precise verbs and concrete details to reveal meaning through imagery and action.

In character development, adjectives add nuance and dimension. They shape how readers perceive a character’s personality, appearance, and emotional state, making characters feel authentic and relatable. The careful selection of descriptive language allows writers to suggest subtle traits and inner conflicts, fostering empathy and understanding without heavy explanation.

Variety is equally important. Repeated or predictable adjectives can flatten your prose, while a diverse and intentional vocabulary keeps writing fresh and dynamic. Choosing adjectives that align with the tone and mood of a scene ensures that descriptions enhance the narrative rather than distract from it.

Throughout this lesson, you will learn how to select adjectives that are precise, evocative, and purposeful words that serve the story instead of overwhelming it. By focusing on sensory detail, emotional resonance, and clarity, you can create writing that immerses readers fully in the world you are building.

Ultimately, mastering descriptive language allows you to set vivid scenes, deepen character connections, and craft narratives that linger in the reader’s mind long after the final sentence.

What Does “Show, Don’t Tell” Mean?

“Telling” gives information plainly, often in a single, undeveloped sentence. "Showing” uses details, actions, sensory cues, and specific word choices to let the reader draw conclusions on their own.

Compare these:

• Telling: “The man was stressed.”

• Showing: “He paced the room, fingers tapping against his thigh as his jaw tightened.”

The second sentence doesn’t say stressed, but we clearly understand it.

Example 1: Emotion — Stress

Telling:

The man was stressed.

This sentence gives us information but no experience.

Showing:

He shifted his weight from foot to foot, tugged at his collar, and chewed his thumbnail until it bled.

Teachable Moment

Instead of naming the emotion, describe physical behavior. Stress often shows through restlessness, nervous habits, and tension. Ask yourself:

• What is the body doing?

• What habits appear under pressure?

Let actions reveal emotion.

Example 2: Setting — Messy Room

Telling:

The room was messy.

This sentence is vague and uninteresting.

Showing:

Empty pizza boxes sagged on the carpet, clothes lay tangled near the bed, and half-filled cups crowded the desk.

Teachable Moment

Messiness is best shown through specific objects and placement. Don’t label the room—inventory it. Ask:

• What items are out of place?

• What details suggest neglect or disorder?

Specifics create clarity.

Example 3: Character Trait — Confidence

Telling:

The woman was confident.

This tells us what to think but not why.

Showing:

She strode into the room with her shoulders back. Conversations paused as she spoke, her voice calm and steady, drawing attention without effort.

Teachable Moment

Confidence appears in movement, posture, and influence over others. Ask:

• How does the character enter a space?

• How do others respond to them?

Strong verbs (like strode) do much of the work.

Example 4: Action — Placing an Object

Weak telling:

He placed it.

This sentence lacks clarity and imagery.

Showing:

He slid his favorite magazine into the top drawer of the cabinet and closed it carefully.

Teachable Moment

Always be specific with actions. Ask:

• What object?

• Where exactly?

• How is the action performed?

Specificity makes scenes believable.

Example 5: Crowd — Full Stadium

Telling:

The stadium was full.

This gives information but no atmosphere.

Showing:

The roar of the crowd shook the stands as thousands rose to chant the player’s name.

Teachable Moment

Crowds are best shown through sound, movement, and scale. Ask:

• What can be heard?

• What is the collective action?

Noise and motion imply size.

Example 6: Weather — Heat

Telling:

It was hot.

This is simple and unmemorable.

Showing:

The sun beat down relentlessly, blistering skin and wilting leaves as sweat soaked through her shirt.

Teachable Moment

Weather should be shown through its effects. Ask:

• What does the heat do to people or objects?

• How does it change behavior?

Let the environment act on the scene.

Example 7: Weather — Cold

Telling:

It was cold.

Showing:

Ice clung to the drainpipes, thick as glass, and each breath fogged the air before vanishing.

Teachable Moment

Cold reveals itself visually and physically. Ask:

• What freezes?

• How does the air feel?

• How do people react?

Use sensory clues.

Example 8: Weather — Wind

Telling:

It was windy.

Showing:

The umbrella twisted inside out, its metal ribs bent and useless against the gusts.

Teachable Moment

Wind shows itself through resistance and damage. Ask:

• What struggles against it?

• What breaks or bends?

Conflict creates interest.

Example 9: Reaction — Humor

Telling:

He found it funny.

Showing:

He collapsed onto the floor, laughing so hard he couldn’t breathe, tears streaming down his face.

Teachable Moment

Laughter is physical. Ask:

• Can the character control themselves?

• What happens to their body?

Extreme reactions convey intensity.

Example 10: Event — Castle Captured

Telling:

The castle was captured.

This removes all drama.

Showing:

The enemy banner rose above the battlements as cheers erupted and armored soldiers poured through the gates.

Teachable Moment

Major events should be shown through symbols, action, and consequence. Ask:

• What changes visually?

• Who benefits? Who loses?

Show the turning point.

Final Takeaway

Adjectives are useful, but description is stronger than labels. Instead of telling the reader what something is, show them what it looks like, sounds like, or does.

Before finalizing a sentence, ask yourself:

• Can I show this through action?

• Can I replace a weak verb with a stronger one?

• Can I add a concrete detail?

When you show rather than tell, your writing becomes vivid, immersive, and memorable.