Manuscript Analysis Free · in-browser · optional cloud history

Show Don't Tell Hints

Pattern match on emotion labels and telling phrases editors flag in AI drafts.

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Paste your text above, then click Analyze — or try Sample.

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About this tool

Telling names emotions instead of dramatizing them — one of the most common issues in AI drafts and early revisions. This show-don't-tell checker pattern-matches emotion labels, "was/were + adjective" constructions, and abstract feeling phrases, then highlights them for rewrite.

Why manuscript analysis matters for fiction

Rule-based analyzers catch patterns human eyes skim past—especially in AI drafts where filter words, adverbs, and passive voice cluster predictably. Use metrics to prioritize revision, not to flatten your voice. Run a chapter first, fix the worst offenders, then scan the full manuscript.

Editing guides · AI manuscript editing

How to use it

  1. Paste your scene or chapter.
  2. Click Analyze to scan telling patterns.
  3. Review highlighted emotion labels and mental verbs.
  4. Replace telling with action, dialogue, or sensory detail.
  5. Re-scan to reduce density per 1,000 words.

Tips for fiction authors

  • Replace "He was angry" with physical cues: clenched jaw, white knuckles, a raised voice. Readers infer the emotion.
  • Summary telling is fine for transitions: "The next three days passed in silence." Not every moment needs to be dramatized.
  • AI models default to labeling emotions because it is efficient. Your revision pass is where scenes come alive.
  • Focus on high-stakes scenes first. Telling in a quiet transition matters less than telling during your climax.

Common questions

What counts as "telling"?

Phrases like "she felt angry," "he was devastated," or "a wave of sadness" label emotions instead of showing behavior or sensation.

Is all telling bad?

No. Summary telling has its place. This tool helps you find clusters to convert in important scenes.

Why do AI drafts tell so much?

Models summarize internal states efficiently. Showing requires concrete detail — this checker marks where to add it.

Related guides

Why AI Writes Every Character Wanting the Same Thing How to Use AI to Diagnose and Fix Sentence-Level Monotony How to Use AI to Write a Character's Interior Monologue Style How to Control AI's Punctuation Habits to Match Your Authorial Voice