3.2. The Art of 'Showing vs. Telling'

This is arguably the most crucial concept in creative writing. 'Telling' gives the reader information directly, while 'showing' allows the reader to experience the information through action, dialogue, sensory details, and internal thought.

In creative writing, one can either 'tell' a story or 'show' the story. When you 'tell,' you provide information directly, such as stating how a character feels or what is happening. For example, saying 'She was sad' is telling. On the other hand, 'showing' invites the reader to experience the story through descriptions, actions, and sensory details. Instead of saying 'She was sad,' you might describe her tears and the way her shoulders slumped, allowing readers to understand her emotional state without being explicitly told.

Imagine a movie scene where a character is crying. If the screenwriter simply wrote 'She was sad,' the audience might not feel the connection. Instead, if the script describes the character sitting alone in a dark room, wiping her tears, and staring at a picture of a happy memory, the audience experiences her sadness through her actions and environment, making it more impactful.

Provide 'telling' sentences (e.g., 'She was angry,' 'The room was messy,' 'He was kind') and challenge students to rewrite them using only showing techniques, expanding them into small paragraphs.

This exercise aims to help you practice transforming straightforward 'telling' statements into more descriptive 'showing' narratives. For example, if a sentence reads 'The room was messy,' instead of stating this directly, you might describe the clothes strewn on the floor, the half-eaten pizza on the desk, and the dust hanging in the air. This approach engages the reader's imagination and makes the narrative more vivid.

Think of when you walk into a friend's house. Instead of saying 'The house is not clean,' you might notice the pile of unwashed dishes in the sink, the shoe collection by the door, and the toys scattered across the living room. These details let you feel the chaos of the house rather than just stating it; similarly, using show techniques in writing enhances the reader's experience.

Take a basic 'telling' scene and work collaboratively or individually to inject sensory details, internal thoughts, and character actions to 'show' what is happening.

This technique encourages creativity by transforming a basic idea into an engaging scene filled with details. For instance, if the original telling sentence is 'It was a rainy day,' transforming it might involve describing the rhythmic tap of raindrops against the window, the smell of wet earth, and a character pulling a snug blanket around them. This deeper level of description allows the reader to see, hear, and feel the rain through the character's perspective.

Consider a dull class at school described as just 'boring.' If a storyteller were to elaborate, they might paint a picture of students doodling in their notebooks, a teacher droning on with monotonous words, and a clock ticking slowly on the wall. This imagined scene captures the essence of boredom far better than just labeling it, showing the audience what it feels like instead of simply stating it.

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