Show vs. Tell in Storytelling

Every story you've ever loved uses one of two ancient Greek tricks to pull you in.

It's all about "showing" versus "telling." "Showing" is when the storyteller disappears.

You're just watching the scene unfold, seeing the characters' actions and hearing their dialogue,

forcing you to figure out what's going on. It’s like being a fly on the wall.

"Telling" is when a narrator straight up tells you what's happening or what a character is thinking.

Think of a voiceover explaining the plot or a book saying, "He was angry." One makes you a

detective; the other gives you the answers.