Craft and structure
When to Tell Instead of Show in Your Novel
Deciding when to tell rather than show can be tricky for fiction writers aiming to balance pacing and detail. It’s common to feel stuck wondering how much to reveal directly versus through scene and action. You’re not alone in wanting clear guidance on when telling serves your story best.
Direct answer
Telling is appropriate when you need to quickly convey background information or context that isn’t central enough to warrant a full scene. This keeps the narrative moving without bogging down in unnecessary detail. For example, summarizing a character’s routine or history can be done through telling rather than showing every moment.
Another good time to tell is when you want to control the reader’s interpretation or provide a character’s internal summary that’s difficult to dramatize. This can clarify motivation or emotional state in a concise way, especially if showing it would require lengthy or repetitive scenes.
Lastly, telling can help manage pacing by skipping over less important events or transitions between major scenes. This avoids reader fatigue and keeps the story focused on key moments. Strategic telling is not lazy; it’s a craft choice that, when balanced with showing, creates a smooth, engaging flow.
What this looks like in practice
Early draft stage
Trying to decide how much detail to include in scenes.
Writer attempts to show every detail, leading to slow pacing and exhaustion.
Writer learns to tell some background or transitions, freeing energy for key scenes.
Revision stage
Evaluating whether a passage needs more showing or telling.
Passages feel either over-explained or underdeveloped, confusing tone and pace.
Writer selectively tells to clarify or speed up parts, improving flow and reader engagement.
Before querying or publishing
Final polish to ensure the manuscript maintains momentum.
Manuscript contains uneven pacing with too many scenes showing minor events.
Writer trims or summarizes less crucial moments through telling, creating a tighter story.
How Story Salon helps
At Story Salon, we help writers identify where telling enhances clarity and pace without sacrificing emotional impact, guiding them to craft a balanced narrative that keeps readers engaged.