Stories that provide definitive examples of showing, not telling, are Hemingway’s “Indian Camp” and Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis.” “Indian Camp” is a coming of age story told through the close 3rd Person POV of a young boy who accompanies his doctor-father to an Indian camp to assist in an emergency birth. It’s important to note the way Hemingway never leaves the present action of the story. Too many beginning writers are caught trying to tell their story with memories, dreams, and flashbacks. My advice is the tell the story, the present action of the story. Readers don’t want too many memories, dreams, or flashbacks: they want the present action of the story. Look back at Joyce’s “Araby,” same thing, we’re always with that young boy in his coming-of-age quest for Mangan’s sister. Read Raymond Carver’s “Cathedral,” same deal, present action. There is plenty of room for memories, dreams, and flashbacks, and each has is use, but for the most part try to deliver to your reader the present action of the story.
Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is the story of a man who awakens in his bed to find himself transformed into a giant insect. The level of detail, of showing, is critical in this narrative, for Kafka succeeds in making us read this story both literally and figuratively, the level of detail deprives us of the choice to disbelieve that it is really happening to Gregor Samsa. And here, too, you will note that Kafka maintains the present action of the narrative at all times.
Both of these authors are masters of ‘showing,’ as you will see.
Copyright laws prevent me from posting these stories, but you should be able to locate all of them to read online.