Alike yourself I've often wondered what it was exactly that people meant by 'Show don't tell' when it refers to writing stories. In the writing world it's a commonly used phrase but what does it mean? The basic answer is: reader immersion. One of the best ways to immerse your reader into your writing is by creating vivid imagery that will draw them further into your world of imagination.
When a writer sits down to tell their story you want to immerse your reader in it as much as possible. Ask yourself this: "Does my writing show what's happening?" Below are a few writing examples to help you visualize what is meant by this question.
Example 1:
Telling - She was angry.
Note: This is unambiguous, but not at all evocative — she may feel angry, but the reader isn’t likely to. Think about what you can do to create a distinct picture in the reader’s mind about how to evoke the emotion of anger.
Showing - The rage took over. All-overwhelming. She reached ba…
When a writer sits down to tell their story you want to immerse your reader in it as much as possible. Ask yourself this: "Does my writing show what's happening?" Below are a few writing examples to help you visualize what is meant by this question.
Example 1:
Telling - She was angry.
Note: This is unambiguous, but not at all evocative — she may feel angry, but the reader isn’t likely to. Think about what you can do to create a distinct picture in the reader’s mind about how to evoke the emotion of anger.
Showing - The rage took over. All-overwhelming. She reached ba…