“Show, don’t tell” is good advice, until it becomes a blunt instrument. Telling can be elegant, efficient, and emotionally sharp. The real goal is control: choosing when to summarize and when to dramatize. Below are practical before-and-after fixes you can apply immediately, plus a simple decision rule for when to show and when to tell. First: when telling is the right tool Telling is often best for transitions, time jumps, compressing routine, and keeping pace. If the moment