• Don’t tell the reader what is happening – show

them

• Allow the reader to fill some gaps

• Allow the reader to gradually build a picture of

story

• Don’t point out the obvious

• Action

• Incidents

• Clear plot points

• Dialogue

• Description of events or actions or setting

• Details describing character behaviours,

mannerisms, emotions

• Capturing the moment of a short time frame

• Foreshadow ideas

• Internal thoughts of character

• Explanations of plot or character

• Background to the story

• A long time frame that needs explaining

• A: John was frightened. He didn’t want to fight in

this war.

• B: John’s feet were firmly implanted in the mud in

the trench. He had lost the fight to free his boots

from the oozing mess. He no longer struggled

but froze in his position, leaning against the

crumbling wall of the trench. As the Captain

yelled for the boys to go over the top, John

clenched his gun tightly. He could see the others

scrambling beyond the trench, but his feet

refused to obey the Captain's orders.