How to Show, Not Tell, with Dialogue

Dialogue, at its most potent, isn’t just words exchanged between characters. It’s a dynamic, living entity that breathes life into your story, revealing character, advancing plot, and building worlds without the author ever having to explicitly state a single fact. It’s the art of showing, not telling, and nowhere is that principle more crucial than in the spoken word. This guide will dismantle the common pitfalls of “teller” dialogue and equip you with the practical tools to craft “shower” dialogue that resonates, engages, and propels your narrative forward.

The Problem with Telling: Why ‘Info-Dump’ Dialogue Falls Flat

Imagine a character saying, “I’m feeling very sad because my dog died yesterday, and I miss him terribly, and it’s making me reconsider all my life choices.” This is telling. It’s a direct declaration of internal state, a verbal information dump that leaves no room for reader engagement or interpretation. It feels artificial, stilted, and often, quite boring.

Telling dialogue often manifests as:

Emotional Declarations: Characters explicitly stating their feelings (“I’m angry,” “I love you so much”). While occasional, direct declarations have their place, relying on them drains the emotional impact.
Backstory Exposition: Characters recounting past events in a monologue, often to another character who already knows the information, solely for the reader’s benefit.
Plot Summaries: Characters explaining the current situation or future plans in a didactic, rather than organic, way.
Character Trait Delineation: A character saying, “I am a very brave person,” instead of demonstrating bravery through their actions and reactions.

The problem with telling dialogue is that it robs the reader of the experience. It spoon-feeds them information, reducing them to passive recipients rather than active participants in the unfolding drama. True engagement comes from inference, from piecing together clues, and from feeling the story unfold through a character’s voice, not just their direct pronouncements.

The Power of Showing: Why Dialogue is Your Secret Weapon

Showing dialogue, conversely, uses organic conversation to reveal the hidden depths of your story. It’s about the subtext, the unspoken, the way characters interact, the words they choose (or avoid), and the rhythm of their speech. It’s about creating a lived experience for the reader.

Think of dialogue as an iceberg. The words spoken are merely the tip. The vast, unseen mass beneath the surface – the character’s history, motivations, insecurities, and hidden agendas – is what truly gives the dialogue weight and meaning.

Character Voice: The Unmistakable Whisper of Authenticity

Every character should have a unique voice. This isn’t about outlandish accents or grammatical quirks (though those can be part of it). It’s about the fundamental way a character communicates.

Actionable Steps:

Vocabulary Choice: Does your character use formal language or slang? Are they verbose or concise? A scholar might use more complex sentence structures and precise terminology, while a street-smart teenager might employ colloquialisms and fragmented sentences.
Sentence Structure & Rhythm: Do they speak in long, flowing sentences or short, clipped phrases? A nervous character might speak rapidly, interrupting themselves. A dominant character might speak slowly and deliberately.
Speech Patterns: Do they use fillers (“um,” “like”)? Do they repeat certain phrases? Do they tend to ask questions or make statements?
Common Expressions/Idioms: Do they have a regional dialect or a catchphrase? Does their cultural background influence their speech?
Dialogue Tags & Action Beats: Move beyond “he said, she said.” Instead, use tags and actions that show the character’s voice and internal state.

Example:

Telling (Generic Voice): “I’m really worried,” he said.

Showing (Distinct Voice): “Blast it all,” Alistair muttered, rubbing his temples as if trying to reattach a stray thought. “This entire rotten mess… it grates on my last nerve.” (Reveals frustration, a touch of older formality, and a specific verbal tic – “grates on my last nerve.”)

Example 2:

Telling (Generic Voice): “I’m going to tell you a story about my childhood.”

Showing (Distinct Voice): “Pfft, listen to ‘im. Think he knows somethin’ about hardship? Lemme tell you, kid, back on the docks… that’s where you learned about real grit.” (Reveals a working-class background, a cynical and slightly aggressive demeanor, and a tendency to interrupt and overshadow.)

Subtext: The Language Beneath the Words

Subtext is the silent conversation, the meaning conveyed without being explicitly stated. It’s the true sign of mastery in dialogue. Subtext is what makes dialogue feel real, because in real life, we rarely say exactly what we mean.

Actionable Steps:

Hidden Agendas: What does each character really want from the conversation, beyond the surface topic?
Unspoken Conflict: Are there underlying tensions, resentments, or desires that aren’t being addressed directly?
Evasiveness & Redirection: Characters might avoid direct answers, change the subject, or use humor to deflect.
Implication & Inference: Instead of stating facts, have characters imply them, allowing the reader to connect the dots.
Silence & Pauses: A pause can be more powerful than a paragraph of words, indicating discomfort, contemplation, or unspoken emotion.

Example:

Telling: “I’m annoyed that you spent all our money on a new gadget.”

Showing (Subtext):
“That’s… a very interesting piece of equipment,” Sarah said, her voice a little too level, eyes fixed on the gleaming chrome object rather than her partner.
“Isn’t it? Top of the line! Think of the possibilities!” Mark beamed, oblivious.
Sarah took a slow sip of her lukewarm tea. “Possibilities. Yes. Like, say, rent.”
(Sarah never says “I’m annoyed” or “you spent too much.” Her level tone, focus on the object, and pointed comment about rent imply her deep frustration.)

Example 2 (Subtext for Character Relationship):

“Coming to the dinner tonight?” he asked, not looking at her, his gaze fixed on the rain-streaked window.
“Don’t know. Got a lot on my plate.” She picked a loose thread from the cuff of her worn sweater.
(The avoidance of eye contact, the non-committal answer, and the preoccupation with a mundane task all hint at a strained, distant relationship, rather than them saying “our relationship is strained.”)

Action Beats & Body Language: Speaking Beyond the Lips

Dialogue doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Characters are physical beings, and their movements, expressions, and interactions with their environment speak volumes. Action beats are short descriptions of a character’s physical actions woven into the dialogue.

Actionable Steps:

Show Emotions, Don’t Tell Them: Instead of “He was angry,” use “He slammed the door,” or “His knuckles whitened on the steering wheel.”
Reveal Internal States: “She chewed on her lip” shows nervousness. “He leaned back, arms crossed” shows defensiveness.
Establish Power Dynamics: Who leans in? Who maintains distance? Who touches whom?
Enhance Setting & Atmosphere: A character shivering and pulling their coat tighter emphasizes coldness.
Pacing & Rhythm: Short action beats can quicken the pace, while longer descriptions can slow it down.

Example:

Telling: “I’m nervous about the presentation,” she said, feeling anxious.

Showing:
“The presentation begins in five,” the PA system crackled.
Eleanor’s hand flew to her throat, adjusting a scarf that was already perfectly aligned. “Five minutes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She traced a lingering, invisible stain on her pristine notes.
(We see her nervousness through the restless hand, the anxious whisper, and the distracting movement, rather than being told she feels anxious.)

Example 2 (Showing Conflict):

“You think this is funny?” he growled.
“Hilarious, actually,” she retorted, a smirk playing on her lips. She met his glare head-on, not flinching.
(His growl and her unyielding smirk and direct gaze show the active conflict and their power dynamic in the exchange.)

Pacing & Economy: Every Word Counts

Effective dialogue is lean. Every line serves a purpose: advancing plot, revealing character, building tension. Unnecessary words slow the story down and dilute the impact.

Actionable Steps:

Cut Redundancy: Avoid characters stating information that has already been made clear through actions or previous dialogue.
Eliminate On-the-Nose Exposition: If a character is explaining basic plot points, ask if it can be shown through action or conflict instead.
Tighten Wordiness: Can a complex idea be conveyed with fewer words?
Vary Sentence Length: Mix short, sharp exchanges with longer, more considered statements to control pacing.
Use Silence Strategically: Sometimes, what isn’t said is the most powerful.

Example:

Telling (Wordy & Redundant): “As you know, Bob, we’re trying to find the ancient relic that’s been hidden for centuries. We need to go to the old crypt in the haunted woods, the one we talked about last week, because it’s the only place it could be.”

Showing (Lean & Impactful):
“Crypt. Tonight?” Sarah’s breath plumed in the cold air.
Bob nodded, tugging his collar tighter. “No other choice. Not if we want it before the full moon.”
(This implies shared knowledge, urgency, and the danger of the location without stating it explicitly.)

Confllict & Tension: The Spark That Ignites Dialogue

Dialogue without conflict, even subtle conflict, often falls flat. Conflict doesn’t always mean arguments; it can be disagreements, misunderstandings, opposing desires, or internal struggles. It’s the engine that drives engagement.

Actionable Steps:

Character Goals: What does each character want in the conversation? Are their goals aligned or opposed?
Misunderstandings: Characters misinterpreting each other can create tension and advance plot.
Contrasting Beliefs/Values: Different worldviews naturally lead to friction.
Power Dynamics: Who holds the power in the conversation, and how does that influence the exchange?
Unresolved Issues: Lingering resentments or past hurts bubbling to the surface.

Example:

Telling: “They argued because they disagreed about money.”

Showing (Conflict through Dialogue):
“Another bill?” He slapped the envelope onto the kitchen table, the sound sharp.
She didn’t look up from her crumbling pastry. “You didn’t think groceries just magically appeared, did you, Arthur?”
“I think the gas bill didn’t need to be quite so high.”
“Perhaps if you remembered to turn off the lights when you left a room,” she said, her voice low, “I wouldn’t have to keep the heating on so high just to feel my fingers.”
(The conflict over money is woven into a mundane setting, revealing their individual habits and underlying resentments without ever explicitly stating “we’re fighting about money.”)

Exposition as an Organic Thread: Weaving Information Seamlessly

One of the trickiest aspects of “showing” with dialogue is integrating necessary exposition without resorting to info-dumps. The key is to make information unfold organically, driven by character needs and plot progression.

Actionable Steps:

“Need to Know” Basis: Characters only share information when it’s relevant to their immediate goals or the unfolding situation.
Debate & Disagreement: Characters can reveal information by arguing over facts or interpretations.
Questions & Answers (with purpose): A character asking a genuine question, and another providing a partial or reluctant answer, can reveal information.
Misinformation & Correction: A character stating something incorrect, prompting another to correct them, can deliver information naturally.
Implied Knowledge: Often, characters don’t need to state what they already know. Let the reader infer it.

Example:

Telling (Exposition Dump): “As you know, I trained for years at the secret academy in the mountains, mastering the ancient martial art of Wind-Willow style, which allows me to manipulate air currents.”

Showing (Organic Exposition):
“You really think you can take him?” Finn scoffed, eyeing their hulking opponent.
Anya merely smiled, her stance subtly shifting, an almost imperceptible breeze rippling the loose ties of her tunic despite the still air. “The masters at the Sky Serpent peak taught me a thing or two about leverage, Finn. And about what happens when you underestimate a breath.”
(Anya doesn’t explain her entire backstory. She hints at her past, mentions a specific skill and its source, and demonstrates the effect (the breeze), leaving the reader to infer her capabilities and training.)

The Art of the Unsaid: Silence and Omission

Sometimes, the most powerful dialogue is the absence of it. What characters don’t say, the questions they avoid, or the topics they skirt around, can be more profound than any spoken word.

Actionable Steps:

Evasion: A character avoids a direct question, changing the subject or offering a generic response.
Uncomfortable Silence: A pause that hangs heavy, indicating tension, unspoken truth, or emotional weight.
Omission: A character deliberately leaves out crucial information, either to protect themselves, manipulate others, or out of fear.
The Unasked Question: A question hangs in the air, obvious but left unvoiced by one or both characters.
The Truth Revealed by Silence: A character’s inability to respond, or their sudden change in behavior, can reveal a truth they’re trying to hide.

Example:

Telling: “He didn’t tell her about his past because he was ashamed.”

Showing (Silence & Omission):
“You’ve never talked about your family, Rhys,” she observed, tracing a pattern on the condensation of her glass.
Rhys cleared his throat, pushing his chair back with a scrape. “The past is… well, it’s just that. Past.” He stood and walked to the window, his back to her, and changed the subject to the weather.
(His immediate evasion, the physical distancing, and the abrupt subject change all show his discomfort and reveals, through omission, that there is something he’s deliberately hiding, implying shame or pain, without him ever stating it.)

Refinement & Revision: The Path to Polished Dialogue

Crafting showing dialogue is rarely a first-draft phenomenon. It’s an iterative process of writing, critiquing, and refining.

Actionable Steps:

Read Aloud: This is the golden rule. Does it sound natural? Do the pauses feel right? Does each character sound distinct?
Check for Redundancy: Are characters simply repeating information?
Identify Info-Dumps: Can any long explanations be broken up, implied, or delivered through action?
Strengthen Action Beats: Are your characters just talking heads? Do their actions reveal their internal states?
Seek Out Telling Phrases: Look for “I feel,” “I am,” “he was angry,” and challenge yourself to rephrase them through showing.
Assess Subtext: Is there an underlying layer of meaning? Is the conversation hinting at something deeper?
Check for Pacing: Does the dialogue flow naturally, or does it feel clunky and slow?

Dialogue is the heartbeat of your story, a symphony of voices that reveals as much through silence as through eloquent speech. By embracing the principles of showing, you transform mere conversation into a vibrant tapestry of character, conflict, and compelling narrative. Master this art, and your readers won’t just hear your story; they’ll live it.