Why 'Show, Don’t Tell' Is Not Always the Best Advice

Introduction

"Show, don’t tell" is a rule repeated in many writing guides. It encourages you to let readers see actions, hear dialogue, and experience scenes rather than simply being told what happens. While this approach can improve storytelling, it is not always the most effective choice. In this post, you will learn when and how to use telling instead of showing—and why a balance between the two can make your writing stronger and more efficient.

The Origins and Purpose of the Rule

"Show, don’t tell" was introduced to move writers away from flat exposition and towards active scenes. For example, instead of writing "she was angry," you might write "she slammed the door and crossed her arms." This method makes emotions visible and encourages reader engagement.

The rule is useful for avoiding bland or repetitive narration. It also helps you explore character behaviour and mood without relying on abstract labels.

But it is a principle, not a law. Not every sentence needs to be shown. Telling can be effective in certain moments, especially when it adds clarity, pace, or structure to the story.

When Telling Is the Better Choice

1. Managing Pacing

If every event is shown in full, the story slows down. Readers may lose interest if too much time is spent on minor details. Telling allows you to summarise events that are not central to the emotional or narrative arc.

For example, you do not need to show a character waking up, brushing their teeth, and making coffee—unless something important happens during those actions. You can write, "He followed his usual morning routine," and move on.

2. Transitions and Background

Telling is useful for moving quickly between scenes or summarising what happened off-stage. This keeps the focus on the key moments of the story. For instance:

"Over the next three days, they travelled without speaking."

This sentence tells rather than shows, but it gives essential information without slowing the pace.

3. Internal Reflection

Sometimes, a character needs to reflect or understand something directly. Showing their every thought through behaviour can feel unnatural or confusing. In these cases, telling gives clarity:

"She realised she had been wrong."

This direct sentence allows the story to move forward with emotional weight and clear intent.

4. Reinforcing Theme and Perspective

Narrative voice can use telling to reinforce a theme or express a viewpoint. This is especially useful in close third-person or first-person narration, where the character’s thoughts shape the narrative.

Telling in these cases adds tone and insight. For example:

"He knew he would never see her again, and the thought settled like stone in his chest."

This line tells us his emotional state but adds enough sensory information to deepen its effect.

Finding the Right Balance

Effective writing uses both showing and telling. The key is knowing when to use each.

Use showing when:

• You want to highlight a moment of change or conflict.

• Emotional impact is highest when experienced directly.

• Character interaction or behaviour reveals important traits.

Use telling when:

• You need to move quickly through unimportant events.

• Reflection or summary gives clarity.

• You are building a narrative voice or pacing structure.

Editing is the stage where you refine this balance. After writing a draft, check which scenes might be more powerful with action and which can be shortened with summary.

Misuse of "Show, Don’t Tell"

Overuse of showing can lead to unnecessary detail and fatigue. Readers do not need to be shown everything. Overexplaining through action makes the story feel slow and overproduced.

Likewise, avoiding all telling can result in awkward or repetitive writing. For example, trying to show a character’s boredom by describing minute details of a dull meeting might frustrate readers.

Telling becomes a problem only when it replaces important dramatic action or when it creates distance from the character’s experience. In many cases, a simple sentence can express a truth more efficiently than a detailed scene.

Examples of Blended Technique

Here is a brief comparison to illustrate balance:

Showing only:She tapped her fingers on the table. Her eyes darted to the clock. She shifted in her seat and sighed.(These actions suggest impatience, but without clarity.)

Telling only:She was impatient.(This is clear but flat.)

Blended approach:She was impatient, tapping her fingers and checking the clock every few seconds.(This tells the emotion and adds concrete, specific actions.)

This blended method is often the most effective. It keeps the reader grounded while also respecting their ability to interpret emotion.

Adapting the Rule to Your Style

The way you use showing and telling depends on your writing style and narrative voice. Literary fiction might use more showing and nuanced observation. Genre fiction, such as thrillers or romance, might benefit from quicker pace and more direct telling in certain sections.

You should also consider the reader. Some audiences prefer concise writing, others enjoy immersive description. Adjust your technique based on who you are writing for and what tone you want to set.

Practice helps you refine your instincts. With time, you will learn which moments require vivid detail and which are best delivered with clarity and speed.

Conclusion

"Show, don’t tell" is a helpful guideline, but not a universal rule. Telling has its place, especially in transitions, reflection, and background. A strong narrative often depends on choosing the right method for the right moment.

Learn to switch between showing and telling depending on what the story needs. This flexibility will improve your pacing, deepen character insight, and increase emotional impact.

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