If you’ve ever taken a writing course, read a craft book, or gotten feedback from an editor, you’ve probably heard the phrase: “Show, don’t tell.”

But what does that actually mean?

It’s one of the most important (and misunderstood) rules in fiction writing. And today, we’re going to unpack it—clearly, thoroughly, and with real examples—so you can start using this technique to make your stories come alive.

So—you’ve got a killer idea for a story. Maybe it came to you in the shower, or at 2 a.m. when your brain refused to sleep. But now you’re staring at a blinking cursor, wondering: Where do I even begin?

Don’t worry. That feeling is totally normal.