“Show, don’t tell”—you’ve heard it a million times. But what if that advice is holding your writing back?
In this bold and practical craft guide, publishing veteran Mary Kole dismantles one of writing’s most misunderstood commandments and shows you how to use both showing and telling to level up your creative writing craft.
Whether you're workshopping a novel, writing a memoir, or deep in the revision trenches, Show and Tell is a smart, no-nonsense writing reference book that gives you the tools to:
Avoid the most common showing mistakes
Cut the fluff without flattening your voice
Deepen character and emotion
Explore interiority
Understand how emotion works on the page to make readers care
Balance immersive scenes with effective exposition and stop overwriting
Use narrative voice intentionally (and irresistibly)
Tell just enough to build trust, context, and clarity
Packed with excerpts from over 50 published books, troubleshooting advice, and rigorous analysis, this guide is your permission slip to break the rules that have been holding writers back for generations.
Don’t just show. Don’t just tell. Learn when, why, and how to do both.
about mary kole
Former literary agent Mary Kole is the author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, a freelance editor, and an IP developer with over a decade of publishing industry experience.
Praise for WRITING INTERIORITY
“It truly is a “guide”. Readable, and so well structured into segments that it will become a well-worn reference. I need it as both an e-book and a paperback. I envision needing to get a new paperback copy in four years, having worn-out the first one I purchase.”
“This book is crafted for guaranteed learning. Awesome reference tool to assist your writing endeavours. The craft and techniques contained within the lines are a goldmine for those wishing to find joy and new directions in their writing. The author is amazing in writing talent and full mastery…only someone with understanding can make this look so simple.”
“This book explains step-by-step how to create and convey character thoughts, feelings, reactions and interpretations, expectations, and inner struggles on the page. With examples from more than fifty books, it is a masterclass on the topic and I’m sure I will reference it for years to come.”
“This is my favorite craft book I’ve read in a long time.”