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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/34068
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/34068
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

### "Show, don't tell" is a guideline - not a rule

There are no _rules_ when writing fiction. There are tips and tricks for what works for most audiences and what does not work for most audiences. But ultimately everything is up to you and when you decide that you don't want something - then simply don't do it. Don't like short sentences? Write long ones and longer ones and even longer ones and combine them with a repetitive "and" and an "or" or maybe two "and"'s and another "or". Don't like to "Show"? Then go ahead and "Tell".

It depends on your goal and your audience - and if you want to publish it, it may very well depend on your publisher.

### I don't think your example is "Telling" rather than "Showing"

The excerpt you _showed_ us isn't simply telling me:

> Persia was ruled by the descendants of _Sefi_. These descendants were often cruel and would regularly kill their attendants.

Instead it's _showing_ me how cruel these people were by illustrating how they stained all of their interieur with the blood of those who were close to them. It _shows_ how people had a somewhat dark humorous saying about someone who would be extremely careful because of the ever-present danger that the sultan was presenting.

You can show through _actions_ and the behaviour of normal people having a saying of this careful young nobleman and his apparent behaviour when he was near the sultan is a perfect illustration for that. There is no need to hide any information in dialogue, but the author clearly created a general personality of the _people_ that he is _showing_ the reader.

Your example displays signs of _showing_, too. You could have said that there were hunters. But you characterized them as _prideful_, said that they were _white-clothed_, which shows how they are hunting in the white grass and you showed that they are regularly fighting with each other. There would be no need to mention that they regularly warred with each other. Only to _tell_ the reader about the specific wars that might be relevant - and to _tell_ them you would need dates and numbers showing casualties and territory lost in greater detail. Furthermore you are showing the reader how he behaved and how this is different from other rulers - he is amicable after all and there is a reason for this character trait - instead of telling the reader _he was nice_.

This style reminds me a bit of older fairytales. The characters might not have a lot of dialogue, but the narrator is _showing_ the reader all the important stuff.

Original score: 1