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Show Don't Tell Detector

Transform telling into vivid showing for immersive prose

AI-Powered
Prose Quality
Scene Craft

What It Does

The Show Don't Tell Detector uses AI to identify passages where you're telling readers what's happening instead of showing them through action, dialogue, sensory details, and body language.

It highlights "telling" statements and provides specific "showing" alternatives that make your prose more immersive and engaging. Perfect for fiction writers who want to strengthen their scenes, create vivid imagery, and trust readers to infer emotions and motivations from character actions rather than exposition.

How to Use It

1

Select Your Project

Choose the manuscript or chapter you want to analyze for show vs. tell balance.

2

Select AI Model

Pick your AI model tier for analysis depth.

  • • Tier 1: Identifies obvious telling and basic alternatives
  • • Tier 2: Nuanced detection with creative showing suggestions
  • • Tier 3: Advanced analysis with multiple showing options per instance
3

Run Detection

Click "Detect Show vs Tell" and the AI scans your prose. Analysis time: 40-110 seconds.

4

Review Flagged Passages

Examine each instance of telling with showing alternatives:

  • Emotion Telling: "She was angry" → Show through clenched fists, sharp tone
  • State of Being: "He was nervous" → Show through fidgeting, stammering
  • Backstory Dumps: Direct exposition → Weave through dialogue/flashback
  • Character Traits: "She was kind" → Show through selfless actions
  • Relationship Dynamics: "They didn't get along" → Show through tense exchanges
5

Rewrite with Showing

Use the AI suggestions as inspiration to rewrite passages with more vivid, sensory, action-based prose.

Estimated Credit Usage

Credit consumption based on text length and AI model:

Short Story

~5,000 words

Tier 1:~1,300 credits
Tier 2:~2,600 credits
Tier 3:~5,200 credits

Novella

~20,000 words

Tier 1:~5,000 credits
Tier 2:~10,500 credits
Tier 3:~21,000 credits

Novel

~80,000 words

Tier 1:~16,000 credits
Tier 2:~36,000 credits
Tier 3:~72,000 credits

Pro Tip

Run on individual scenes first to learn the tool, then apply to full chapters once you understand the pattern.

Best Practices

Balance Is Key

Not all telling is bad. Some exposition is necessary. Focus on showing in emotional beats and pivotal scenes.

Use Sensory Details

The best "showing" engages multiple senses—sight, sound, touch, smell, taste. Don't just show visually.

Learn the Patterns

After using the tool a few times, you'll start recognizing your own "telling" habits and can self-correct while drafting.

Keep Your Voice

Use AI suggestions as inspiration, not prescription. Adapt showing techniques to match your unique writing style.

Ready to Master Showing?

Transform flat telling into vivid, immersive showing that brings your scenes to life with the Show Don't Tell Detector.