Most of you are likely tired of hearing about showing vs. telling. It’s one of those writing rules that so many like to hand out to new writers, but they don’t really take the time to explain it. So, that’s what I’m going to do today. But we’re going to go beyond that: I’m also going to show you how it looks in nonfiction.
What is showing vs. telling?
This is a much easier concept to explain to fiction authors because there are so many opportunities in fictional stories to show what’s happening through action or dialogue. But in nonfiction—unless you’re writing a memoir—it’s much more nuanced.
Since you’re dealing with truth, reality, experience, and theory in a nonfiction book, you’ll need to dig deeper to find ways to pull your reader into your content through the art of showing and telling. It’s not impossible; it just takes more thought.
How can I show in my nonfiction narrative?
Here are some ways you can engage your readers through showing vs. telling:
| showing | telling | |
| introducing a theory | talk about your experience | explain the theory without any examples |
| giving advice for improvement | use case studies | talk about the benefits without showing the results |
| convincing to try something new | interview others who have done it with success | outline a plan, theory, or method with no experience to back it up |
| talking about research studies | use reliable sources for further reading | mention studies without giving the evidence |
| introducing a new idea | tell a story about how the idea presented itself | offer no context about why the idea is important to you or others |
Why is showing vs. telling important in nonfiction books?
Though it isn’t a writing rule that’s often talked about in nonfiction, it’s important to understand how it affects readers when it’s used effectively.
- It helps your readers engage more with your books and you as an author.
- When a reader learns something important from reading your book, they tend to take actions that benefit both them and you.
- An engaged reader will seek you out after finishing your book to find out more information, which will present opportunities to introduce your other books, products, or services to them.
- When you impress a reader who’s new to your content, they tend to leave wonderful reviews and recommend you to their friends and/or family.
- You’re able to make a positive difference in a stranger’s life.
- You can feel confident knowing you told an impactful story and left a lasting legacy.
How can you tell if you showed enough in your nonfiction book?
Even if you feel you gave your best effort, it’s natural to have lingering doubts about the strength of your manuscript. And it’s even harder to be objective about the book you’ve written. A great developmental editor can help you determine whether you did enough to engage your readers or it needs more work.
And even if your book does need more work, that doesn’t mean you failed as an author. It means you are willing to do whatever it takes to publish the book of your dreams. A great developmental editor can help you get there if you’re willing to invest in yourself and your future author career.