So a lot of writers get rejections that say, “Show, don’t tell.” And then they are left wondering, what does that even mean? And then everyone uses the Chekov quote, “Don’t tell me the moon is shining. Show me the glint of light on broken glass.” That’s because writers and editors like to quote other writers and editors because it makes us sound: Pretentious. Cough. I mean intelligent! Like we know what we’re doing. DEFINITIONS TIME Showing is what it sounds like. You are showing what’s happening in the scene or with the character. Telling is also what it sounds like. You are blunt and direct and are just stating things. Sometimes you’re stating and summarizing. HERE IS A QUICK EXAMPLE: Telling: Shaun was cranky. Showing: Gabby the dog barked for hours at the dogs trotting by the house that morning and after a quick pause for a drink from her red water bowl in the kitchen, she’d pranced back to the living room sliding glass door and started again. Shaun tensed. He slammed...