How To Show And Not Tell In Short Stories

‘Show, don’t tell’ is good advice for any writer, but even more so for a short story writer. The limited word count means our writing has to work harder. We really need to pack a punch. Here’s how:

1.  Express emotion as action:

2.  Choose a viewpoint character:

By choosing one character to focus on you make it easier for yourself to simplify your scene and make the most of it. Write small.

3.  Use the senses:

Write a list of what your character sees, hears, feels, touches and tastes. Then write about it without using the words see, hear, feel, touch and taste.

4.  Be specific:

The more specific you are with your descriptions and actions the easier it will become to show.

5.  Avoid these ‘telling’ words: is, are, was, were, have, had

6.  Use dialogue:

This is one of the simplest tools to use. The moment your characters start talking, showing becomes easier.

Show, don’t tell is a very powerful writing tool. Keep practising.

Happy writing.

[If you want to learn how to write a short story, join us for Short Cuts in Johannesburg or sign up for our online course.]

 by Mia Botha