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Show Don't Tell Guide for Writers
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Character · PDF download

Show Don't Tell Guide for Writers

You know the rule. You've heard it a hundred times. *Show, don't tell.*

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  • WHAT'S INSIDE
  • 22 emotions in full — from Fear and Anger to Dissociation, Manipulation, and Defiance
  • 7 dimensions per emotion: Physical Body · Behavior & Action · Internal Sensation · Voice & Speech · Thought Patterns · Environment Interaction · Intensity Scale
  • Intensity Scale for every emotion — from subtle to extreme, with original prose examples
  • 4 groups: Primary Emotions · Relational Emotions · Psychological States · Power Dynamics
  • Clickable tab navigation — jump to any emotion from any page

About this tool

But what does it actually look like on the page? When your character is afraid — what does their body do? How does their voice change? What do they think about? What do they stop thinking about?

The **Show Don't Tell Dictionary** is a navigable PDF reference that answers these questions for 22 emotions across 4 groups — while you write. You look up the emotion. You find seven dimensions of how to render it on the page. You go back to your manuscript with exactly what you need.

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