I am sure you must have heard this phrase several times,
especially from creative writing instructors.
Writing experts believe that your writing is more interesting if your
readers are drawn into your world of imagination by drawing inferences.
‘Show’ not ‘Tell’, is a technique in writing which is employed to
provide details about characters or settings. These details, help readers to figure out
some information about characters and settings.
I will like to draw examples from two of my students’ write
ups. It was really interesting reading their work as they try to use this
technique.
1. Tell: John is angry
Show: John flung all the documents on his
table and kicked the chairs beside it. He held his head in both hands, tightly
gnashing his teeth and roaring like a hungry lion.
2. Tell: John is sad
Show: John opened his room and sluggishly
sat on the bed shaking his head. He finally rested his head on his hands and
gave a heavy sigh.
DIVINE EZE OGBONNA (SSS 2, WINNERS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY, PORTHARCOURT)
1. Tell: John is angry
Show: The rage in his breath as he walked to-and fro
the room, muttering words that no one could hear. John walked out of the room
banging the door behind him and breaking the nearest breakable he could lay his hands on.
2. Tell: John is sad
Show: The misery on John’s face left him in deep
thoughts, as he sat quietly at the corner of his bed one afternoon. As tears
rolled down his cheeks, goose bumps filled his entire body, making him breathe
heavily.
OBOT DEBORAH ELIJAH (SSS 2, WINNERS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY, PORTHARCOURT)
It is your turn. Figure out this character
1. Show: Joana
slowly opened the door which made a screeching sound as it gradually opened.
She bent to dodge from a dangling cobweb which seemed to have formed a net at
the entrance of the house. She moved
towards the dinning and made patterns on the table. She tried talking, but was
greeted by her own echo.
Tell:
2. Show:
Tell: Joana is nervous
