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.
18/07/2025