Show, Don’t Tell

narciIn fiction writing workshops, there’s a saying that’s practically a cliché: it’s “Show, don’t tell.” In other words, don’t simply state something in the story’s narrative — actually show it by fleshing it out with details.

For instance, you could write a sentence:

I’m a very honest person.

Or… you could write out a scene in which you show that the narrator or main character is a very honest person:

“I wasn’t involved in that, you know.”

“Are you serious? Of course you’re serious! You always tell the truth.”

“Oh. Do I?”

“Of course you do! You’re the most honest person I know. It kind of amazes me that you never make up a lie as an excuse to miss work. I mean, never. Anyone else would lie about being sick so they can take a day off work. But you never do that.”

“Oh. People do that, seriously? I never would have thought of doing that.”

The friend waves her hand. “Well, there you go. It’s because you’re extremely honest.”

If the narrative of the novel or story includes the sentence, “I’m a very honest person,” the author had better show the narrator acting like a very honest person. Otherwise, you have an unreliable narrator. Of course, if it’s the author’s intention to have an…