12/11/2025
In class today we have been working on elevating our creative writing techniques.
The DADS acronym in story writing stands for Dialogue, Action, Description, and Show don’t tell.
It’s a strategy that we teach
our students to make their narratives more engaging and vivid.
Here’s the breakdown explained in detail:
Dialogue: Use conversations between characters to reveal personality, advance the plot, or create tension.
Action: Show what characters are doing to keep the story dynamic and moving forward.
Description: Paint a clear picture of settings, characters, and emotions to immerse the reader.
Show don’t tell: Instead of stating facts directly, let readers infer meaning through details, body language, and sensory detail.
An example of being lost in the Forest using DADS:
Dialogue: “We should’ve turned left at the river,” muttered Sam,
frustration edging his voice.
Action: He kicked a stone down the path and unfolded the crumpled map with shaking hands.
Description: The towering pines loomed overhead, their branches weaving together like a dark ceiling.
Show don’t tell: Sweat trickled down his temple, and his darting eyes betrayed the panic he tried to hide.
So, use the acronym DADS to make your stories come more alive and layered.
