What does it really mean to 'show' and not 'tell'?

When editors tell you to 'show' and not 'tell', they're generally suggesting ways to help make your story more immersive for the reader. Readers want to be sucked into your world and experience what's happening on the page and great writing can help a person to do this. 

But, what on Earth does it actually mean to 'show' and not 'tell' in writing? Why is it so crucial to the craft of storytelling?

At its core, 'show, don’t tell' is about immersing your readers in the story by allowing them to experience the events, emotions and settings through descriptive details, rather than through straightforward exposition. It's about painting a picture with words, rather than simply telling the audience what’s happening as a step-by-step run-through of narrative.

Consider this example:

Mary Sue was nervous about the battle.

In this sentence, we've stated the emotion outright. The reader has nothing to imagine in their mind and there's nothing for them to infer. We've directly told them what's happening.

And, this can be a powerful tool, sometimes. However, a book full of 'telling' sentences won't help your reader to vividly imagine your story.

Let's try again:

Mary Sue's hands shook as she looked out across the trembling battleground. In the back of her mind, she imagined the bodies which would fall and wondered if hers would be in the mix.

This approach is more engaging and allows readers to deduce the emotions and tone of the moment for themselves, creating a far more immersive and personal experience.

By engaging the reader's senses, you can begin to offer a greater world between the pages for them to visit. Descriptive language appears to sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, drawing readers deeper into your narrative. Imagining a scene in greater detail utilises sensory immersion to make your storytelling more compelling. Readers will want to visit your world and—namely, will help to keep reading once they've started.

In addition to creating a richer world, showing emotions within your characters can have a stronger impact on your readers than if you'd simply stated them. Don't just tell the readers that your character is sad—this takes away the fun of witnessing the action. Instead, show them slumped shoulders, a quivering lip or a vacant stare. This will help your readers to connect to your characters on a deeper level.

This can also help you to begin to imbue your character's personalities and the world's setting without direct exposition. How a character interacts with their environment or responds to a situation reveals more about them than a straightforward description ever could—just like it does in the real world.

Showing your readers instead of telling allows you to unfold your story organically. It helps to avoid the pitfalls of excessive exposition and info-dumps, allowing the narrative to instead develop naturally through your character's actions and interactions as opposed to bland facts.

'Showing' and not 'telling'—while an age-old and tired saying—is essential for creating rich, engaging narratives that captivate readers. By showing emotions, actions and settings through vivid descriptions and dynamic scenes, you invite your readers to experience the story firsthand. 

While telling has its place, the magic of storytelling often lies in the details you show, not just in the facts you tell. So, next time you sit down to write, remember to let your words paint the picture and your characters bring the story to life.