That can be tricky. It's less tell-y and infodumpy when readers want to know that info at that time, or if it's relevant to the scene. I try to create situations where I can show the backstory in how the character acts or thinks, or gives them a reason to bring their history up or use their skills.

Here's a post I did that might help. There's tons more on my site as well 🙂

http://blog.janicehardy.com/2012/03/baby-got-backstory-dealing-with.html

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

You're most welcome! I totally agree. It frustrated me to no end, which is why I sat down and tried to figure out how to spot it and how to fix it 🙂

If you said something like "John thought he should have asked Lisa out for dinner," then you're likely telling. You're explaining to readers what John thought, not showing John thinking it. A show would be more like "John frowned. He should have asked Lisa out for dinner."

If you're doing a tight or limited POV, then you'd only show what the POV character is thinking.

Telling is more about tone and what's conveyed. If it sounds like the author explaining, or it shifts out of the POV character's head to say something they wouldn't know, you're probably telling. But if it fits the POV character's voice, and it's something they'd logically think, do, say at that moment in that scene, it'll probably feel shown.

If you said something like "John thought he should have asked Lisa out for dinner," then you're likely telling. You're explaining to readers what John thought, not showing John thinking it. A show would be more like "John frowned. He should have asked Lisa out for dinner."

If you're doing a tight or limited POV, then you'd only show what the POV character is thinking.

Telling is more about tone and what's conveyed. If it sounds like the author explaining, or it shifts out of the POV character's head to say something they wouldn't know, you're probably telling. But if it fits the POV character's voice, and it's something they'd logically think, do, say at that moment in that scene, it'll probably feel shown.