Manuscript Analysis Free · in-browser · optional cloud history

Show Don't Tell Hints

Find telling patterns in your prose — emotion labels, "was angry," "felt sad," abstract feelings. Free show-don't-tell hint tool for fiction writers. Private browser scan.

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Runs in your browser. We don’t use your drafts to train models.
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Paste your text above, then click Analyze — or use Try sample for a quick demo.

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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. Paste a high-stakes scene from Story Studio or any AI chapter; the scan runs privately in your browser.

What you can do

  • Pattern matching for emotion labels and mental-state telling
  • Flags "was/were + adjective" constructions that summarize feelings
  • Highlights abstract phrases like "a wave of sadness" or "overwhelmed with joy"
  • Density stat per 1,000 words to track improvement across revisions
  • In-context highlights for quick show-don't-tell rewrites
  • Works on scenes, chapters, or opening pages before query submission
  • Complements sensory detail scanner for fuller scene immersion

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.

Five-pass revision order · AI manuscript editing · Manuscript cleanup

How to use it

  1. Paste your scene or chapter into the text area.
  2. Click Analyze to scan for telling patterns.
  3. Review highlighted emotion labels and mental verbs.
  4. Replace telling with action, dialogue, or sensory detail.
  5. Re-scan to reduce telling 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.
  • Pair show-don't-tell fixes with the sensory detail scanner — one concrete smell or texture often replaces a paragraph of telling.

Related guides

Why AI Writes Every Character Wanting the Same Thing How to Use AI to Diagnose and Fix Sentence-Level Monotony Why AI Resolves Every Scene's Emotional Beat Too Neatly Use AI to Find Where Scenes Overstay Their Welcome

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.

Is my manuscript uploaded?

No. Show-don't-tell scanning runs entirely in your browser on Entangled Text.

Should I fix telling before filter words?

Many authors run Manuscript Cleanup first, then use this tool on chapters with the highest telling density.

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