Show Don't Tell Writing

Which sentence is the best example of sensory details?

• I like chocolate.

• Chocolate is made from roasted, ground cacao seeds.

• Chocolate is delicious and I love to eat it.

• The chocolate melted on my tongue as I placed the heart shaped candy into my mouth.

To show the reader how the character feels, the writer uses the five senses to describe the event which helps the reader imagine what they are reading.

• True

• False

Dominique graciously presents sweet treats of sugar-dusted wafers and creamy milk chocolate to her customers. The author is _____ in this sentence.

• Showing

• Telling

Whenever I am scheduled to give a speech, I suffer with wet, clammy hands and butterflies in my stomach. The author is _____ in this sentence.

• Showing

• Telling

The sisters cheerfully decorated the halls with green garlands and streamers of gold and silver crepe paper.

The author is _____ in this sentence.

• Showing

• Telling

What are sensory details?

• Descriptions that appeal to our 5 senses

• Personal reflections or feelings

• Memories that we have had

• Real life experiences in writing

She walked slowly, her head down, dragging her feet along the floor.

• She was clueless.

• She was hesitant.

• She was excited.

• She was prepared.

I was in the waiting room. I was nervous.

Rewrite this description by ‘showing’ the reader what it was like to be nervous. Appeal to the senses and focus on the physical body’s response to the emotion. Focus on the face, the eyes, the mouth, the hair, the skin, the heart, the blood, the pulse, the sweat, the breath and the tears, etc.

Show, don’t tell!

When describing a character’s feelings, skilful writers do not just ‘tell’ the reader how the character feels. They ‘show’ the reader by using imagery.

• I understand

• I don't undrstand

Which sentence best illustrates the 'show, don't tell' technique?

• A) She was very angry.

• B) Her face turned red, and her fists clenched tightly.

• C) She said she was angry.

• D) She was not happy.