Show, don’t tell
“Show don’t tell” is the writer’s equivalent of “easier said than done.” You can explain to someone how to drive a car, but they won’t really learn until they get behind the wheel for themselves.
Even if it’s tricker to get a handle on, and slower, “showing” is a lot more effective than simply “telling.”
“Show don’t tell” takes us (the readers) into your world. It helps us feel what you are feeling, and identify or empathise with you. It’s a very persuasive technique, so will be valuable to you if you’re writing sales content, if you’re undertaking advocacy, or if you’re writing narrative non-fiction (like blogs). Among other things.
How to show (not tell)
One of the best ways to force yourself to show instead of tell is to limit adjectives and adverbs. These are “describing words,” words that tell you a little more about a person, thing or action. A slow day, a green apple, a cold heart. Writing creatively, eating ravenously, painting mindfully. You get the picture.
Adjectives and adverbs are helpful descriptive tools, but they are often over-used. These words tell us what’s going on. They describe a situation for us.
But what if, rather than reading about a situation, we could experience it for ourselves? What if we were to ditch the adjectives and adverbs and, instead, paint a picture? Wouldn’t that be better?
To whit:
“Marie returned home from an exhausting and over-tiring jog.” Okay, we’ve been told that Marie’s jog was exhausting and over-tiring, but do we really care?
How about:
“Marie returned home from her jog, clutching her side and panting. The couch had never looked so inviting! She kicked off her sneakers and let herself collapse into the cushions.” Now are you feeling it?
The first example relied on describing words to tell us how Marie was feeling. The second example took us there by showing us the story as it unfolded.
This distinction is even more important in corporate and business writing. In these cases, the use of adjectives and adverbs can make your document appear juvenile and unprofessional.
Homework
Take another look at some of the pieces you have written recently and ask yourself: is there any other way I could describe this, removing most of the adjectives and adverbs?