Show dont Tell

Tips & Tricks

Using dialogue, sensory details, and action
 DIALOGUE
Dialogue = conversations in a
story
Dialogues purpose is to reveal
what a character thinks or feels,
or to reveal the characters
personality.
 Writing Basic Dialogue
What characters say should be written within
quotation marks ( )
`capitalized.
Ex: Look at that! said Emily.
Punctuation belongs inside the quotation marks.
Ex: Look at that! said Emily.
Commas separate dialogue from narration when
exclamation points or question marks arent used.
Ex: Look at that, said Emily.
Ex: Emily said, Look at that.
 Add Dialogue!
Dialogue allows the reader to experience a
scene as if they were there. Instead of telling
the reader your mom was angry, they can hear
it for themselves:
EX: Justin Michael, mom bellowed, get in here this instant!

Dialogue can give your reader a great deal about character,

emotion and mood.
 Use Sensory Language!
In order for readers to fully experience what youre
writing about, they need to be able to see, hear,
taste, smell and touch the world around them.
Use Specific Action Verbs