What does it mean to show and not tell, and why is it important?

What does it mean to show and not tell? And s it really important in your books? After all, aren't stories about people telling each other things?

Yes, stories are about characters sharing information with each other, but that's not the same as telling. Telling is when the author dumps a bunch of information on the reader all at once. It's like being lectured. An example of this is:

John was a tall, handsome man. He had dark hair and blue eyes. He wore a suit and tie to work every day.

This is telling because we're not seeing John, we're just being given a list of facts about him. It's dry and boring.

Showing is when the author reveals information little by little, through the characters' actions and dialogue. It's more interesting than telling because it pulls the reader into the story. The reader gets to experience the story along with the characters instead of being told about it second-hand. Showing also allows the author to reveal information in a more natural way, which makes the story feel more realistic. So our example might read something like this:

John stood in the elevator, his suit jacket pulled tight across his broad shoulders. His eyes were fixed on the doors, but his mind was elsewhere. He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it slightly mussed.

This passage shows us John instead of telling us about him. We can see his physical features and get a sense of his personality. We know he's tall and handsome, but we also see that he's restless and preoccupied. Showing allows the reader to form their own opinion about the character instead of being told what to think.

Of course, you can't show everything. There will always be some exposition (information that needs to be conveyed but would be awkward or difficult to show) in every story. But remember, showing is always better than telling. Whenever possible, let your characters show us who they are and what's going on in your story.