Writing: Show vs. Tell

Hello lovies!

I am back again, this time I wanted to give you some examples of what I've mean on showing a story verses just telling a story. Lets start off with a simple setting.

• A cold jungle Night.

Tell:

The easiest way to just tell it is to leave it at that. "it was a gold jungle night..." Otherwise person you could tell it like this:

• A soft breeze gentle danced though the air, rustling the large leaves bringing the cool temperatures of night. Up above the canopy of trees, the large violet moon Eles and Its small companion Inah, rose into the sky showering the world in a soft moonlight. 

That was a little  better of course, but still this is mostly telling. I'm not showing you the scene I'm telling you. Its cold. The leaves are big. It wasn't bad, but if we pull back just a little more we can show the reader the scene.

Show:

The sun is falling. 

Brilliant colors sing a lullaby as the grand light of day fades below the horizon, temporarily cascading the world in darkness. when the light fades, the beauty of the night comes alive. Countless stars seemingly blink into existence as colors streak a crossed the once dark sky. The violet sphere of Eles peeks over the horizon to soon dominate the night, followed closely by the small, blue, Inah. The violet and blue companions cast the land in their soft moonlight, forever the silent guardians of our dreams. The moons of Narsayes let out a sigh upon the land. The wind, nothing more then a gentle caress, sweeps through the jungle canopy. 

Leaves, some larger then a man, rustle under the caress welcoming in the cool temperatures of the night. Many creatures, both big and small, sleep yet even in the night the jungle is filled with bustling life.

Can you see how instead of just saying it was night, and just saying it was cold, just saying the leaves were big I showed the reader instead.  Of course you have to be careful to not have to much description or the readers get bored. You should find the right balance. A good way to do this is to not just describe everything in one huge block. Break it up throughout the scene, showing details when they are necessary.

I hope this was helpful!

Take care!

J. K. Van'Ellessad