Tag: Showing vs. Telling

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What’s the difference between showing and telling in novel writing? | Revise and Refine

Mandy Webster

If you’ve ever taken a creative writing course, you have probably been admonished at least once to “show, don’t tell.” But, what does that even mean? What’s the difference between showing and telling, and why does it matter?

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining: show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
–Anton Chekov

Showing and telling are two different ways of conveying information in creative writing. Telling refers to when the author simply tells the reader what is happening or what a character is feeling, without showing it through actions, dialogue, or description. For example, “Tessa was angry” is a statement that tells the reader how Tessa is feeling without showing any evidence of her anger.

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What’s the difference between character development and characterization?

Mandy Webster

Character development and characterization are two closely related concepts in fiction writing. However, there is a subtle difference between the two terms. Character development refers to the changes that a character undergoes over the course of a story. These physical, emotional, or psychological changes are all part of the character’s arc. For example, a character might start out as shy and timid, but by the end of the story, they might become more confident and outgoing.

How do you help your reader truly get to know each character in your story?

Meanwhile, characterization refers to the way that a writer reveals a character’s personality, motivations, and background. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as:

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