“Show don’t tell” is a phrase that gets thrown around by writing teachers and editors alike. The good teachers actually take the time to explain what it means. The rest just repeat the phrase ad nauseam and assume you’ll figure it out somehow.

I didn’t understand this idea in high school or even college. I always thought, “You’re telling a story. Isn’t it all telling?”

But as I read more writing books, the meaning became clearer. And once I finally understood it, it made a huge difference in my...