That writing tip about 'show don't tell' is actually backwards for dialogue

I was reading a scene where two characters argued about a stolen car and realized every writing guide says to show emotions instead of telling them, but in conversation people actually DO tell each other how they feel all the time. Has anyone else found that following that rule too strictly makes your dialogue sound robotic?

2 comments

2 Comments

hollym821mo ago

Yeah that "show don't tell" thing really falls apart in real talk.

parker_jones501mo ago

I mean, showing works in real talk too, you just gotta read between the lines.