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Writing tips: "show, don't tell"
show and tell tips writing writing advice writing encouragement
Amy LeibowitzEveryone's heard "show, don't tell" at least once. It gets passed around in workshops, classes, and critique groups. It takes other forms, too. Sometimes it's labeled as "spoon-feeding" or "info-dumping," depending on the genre. It's probably the most common piece of writing advice ever given.
It's also the most meaningless.
"Show, don't tell" has a somewhat unfortunate history. It may be anti-communist propaganda, and it definitely has