History Main / ShowDonttell

* CostumePorn: Writers attempting to show how detailed clothing is, even though it usually is not necessary to do so.
* DescriptionPorn: Description that goes into so much detail that the reader will soon shout "Get on with the story already!"

!!!Telling that contradicts shown behavior or evidence:

!!!Showing instead of playing:

!!!Playing instead of showing:

!!!Acceptable Telling:

!!!Showing that slows the narrative:

** InformedAbility "...and Alice, who could [[VoluntaryShapeshifting turn into a pink butterfly on a whim]], dragged herself out of bed and drove to work."

* CutscenePowerToTheMax: Your character is significantly more able when you're not playing as him.
* CutsceneIncompetence: Your character is significantly ''less'' able when you're not playing as him.

* InstructiveLevelDesign: objects in the levels are assembled such that the designers don't need to say anything to you
* MalevolentArchitecture: environments may be twisted or something in such a way as to make you anxious when moving through them

* TooMuchInformation: Minor details that aren't in relation to the plot shouldn't have so much focus being placed on them.

* TimeSkip: No one wants to read or watch through a lengthy sequence of events where nothing particularly interesting, exciting or relevant to the plot happens. Under such circumstances, it's quite acceptable to just jump from one relevant bit to another relevant bit and tell your reader / viewer that it's "ten years later" or "it took him fifteen minutes to get to the shop" and leave it at that without showing what happened during that time.

-->--'''Music/ElvisPresley'''

* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: Have a job which would involve distinctly non-heroic behavior for your hero? Don't worry, just don't have them do it. It's not like killing people is an ''important'' part of being an assassin anyway.

* CostumePorn: Writers attempting to show how detailed clothing is, even though it is not necessary to do so.

* CostumePorn: Writers attempting to show how detailed clothing is, even though is is not completely necessary to do so.

* YouDoNotWantToKnow: Some secrets are best left unrevealed.

->"A little less conversation, a little more action please"

-->-- '''Main/ElvisPresley'''

* To '''tell''' that she is a badass, the narrator, Alice herself and/or other characters around her would [[FauxActionGirl merely state that fact]]. For instance, they might report on previous incidents that have happened in the past and/or "offscreen" while the other characters were busy. Or maybe there'll be no support for the statement whatsoever, but that's unlikely ("Hey, did you hear about the badass things Alice did the other day?" "No, I didn't." "Well, they sure were badass!" *crickets*). In particularly {{egregious}} works, the narrator may state that Alice is a badass, even going so far as to include list of badass things she did, and then [[InformedAbility never mention it again]] or—God forbid—apply her badassery in a scene or two.

Now this line is sometimes quoted as an absolute gospel truth, which is not really true. It's certainly a good habit to get into (particularly in character writing; nobody likes being ''told'' what they're supposed to think of someone), but it's not an ironclad rule, and knowing when to break it to quickly explain minor details is a major aspect of learning to write. One of the best times to Tell something instead of Show it is when you want to summarize a long period of time—the written equivalent of a TimePassesMontage. Some times, one might Show so much that it becomes TooMuchInformation.

->"A little less conversation, a little more action please "

* {{Exposition}}

* NothingIsScarier: when the writers use our imagination to make us fear.

* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: The hero defeats the villain in a truly epic battle; too bad you got here too late to see it.

* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: Have a job which would involve distinctly non-heroic behavior for your hero? Don't worry, just don't have them do it. It's not like killing people is an ''important]]'' part of being an assassin anyway.

* ThePiratesWhoDontDoAnything: Have a job which would involve distinctly non-heroic behavior for your hero? [[SarcasmMode Don't worry, just don't have them do it. It's not like killing people is an]] ''[[SarcasmMode important]]'' [[SarcasmMode part of being an assassin anyway.]]