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✪ This class is part of the May Masters of Fiction promotion. Learn more.

Despite rampant writing advice to authors to “show, don’t tell!” both techniques are necessary for good story, and each offers an author potent tools to paint a richly layered, immersive reader experience.

The trick is knowing which one to use when. Simply, “show” indicates playing out real-time action on the page. “Tell” refers to exposition—description rather than dramatization. In cinematic terms, think of show as the on-screen version of the story and tell as the voice-over narration—scene versus summary.

Stories stall out when they show every little detail of a character’s life, action that isn’t germane and essential to moving the story forward. But they bog down in pages of dull narration when everything is merely told, leaving readers feeling distant from the story, like it’s being recounted to us rather than as if we’re living it directly.

Career editor Tiffany Yates Martin draws from decades of experience working on hundreds of manuscripts to show authors how these equally essential storytelling elements can enhance a story when used in harmony, and how to determine what that balance is. With plenty of specific examples, you’ll learn how to spot clunky tell where show might be more effective, where to keep momentum strong by propelling the action with tell instead of hindering it with show, and practical approaches for utilizing both these techniques to bring your stories to vividly to life and deeply engage your readers.

What you’ll learn:

• The differences between showing and telling, and what each is most effectively used to accomplish
• How to balance “show” and “tell” in your story to deeply engage readers and keep momentum strong
• How both showing and telling can help you pack your prose with layers and meaning—separately and together
• What it means to “put the meat on the page” with show—and how to ensure readers are a direct part of the character’s journey and the key action of the story
• How to use tell to create essential context that heightens impact, deepens reader engagement, and moves the story forward
• Practical techniques for spotting clunky or flat “tell” and bringing it to life with show
• Identify where you may be stalling out your story with unnecessary “show”
• How showing and telling principles apply to characters’ inner lives, backstory, suspense and tension, POV, and other core storytelling elements

Supplemental materials from the instructor

• Exercises to practice identifying show and tell, determine which is most effective when, and balance and incorporate both smoothly into a scene

Who should take this class

This course is primarily focused on fiction writing for the adult market and will use examples from fiction, but memoirists may find it useful.

• Authors writing in any genre of fiction at any stage of the writing process of their career who want to create compelling, marketable stories
• Writers who may have heard from agents, editors, or colleagues that their stories lack immediacy or feel flat, the characters don’t feel fully fleshed and real, or their manuscript “just didn’t grab them”
• Authors who want to enhance their understanding of story and how to effectively bring it to life on the page
• Writers who have struggled to understand or utilize the often-given advice to “show, don’t tell”

This class is NOT for:

• Poets
• Children’s picture book writers
• Writers of prescriptive nonfiction or essays

What you’ll receive

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology. You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

• When: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
• Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern Time / 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Pacific Time
• Fee: $25 through May 24, 2026 / $35 if you register after May 24, 2026

The webinar is broadcasted via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service (powered by Otter), which is about 80%+ accurate.

Refund policy

If you attend the live class and/or watch the recording, and it does not meet your expectations, contact us for a full refund, no questions asked.

All students receive the following

• Access to the live class (90 minutes). The instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 90 minutes.
• A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
• Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentations in PDF form.
• Rough transcript. We offer a lightly edited transcript of each webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee or presenter—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

• That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
• That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be asked to leave the live event and will not be refunded.