I’ve been reading and reviewing a lot of books lately. I’d say that roughly half of them have been well-written and engaging. The other half, well, the authors were in need of a good editor. Not that the ideas were bad. No, the problem I’m seeing most often is that the authors are telling me what’s going on rather than showing me.
All writers have their own styles and methods. There’s nothing wrong with that. But, at least for me, I like to let my imagination participate when I’m reading. I want to see the characters moving on the page, I want to see their body language, hear their tone of voice, watch their facial expressions. For me, reading is akin to watching a show on television, or a movie, in that it plays out in my head as I read.
What I don’t like is when a writer tells me what’s going on. Bob was angry. I mean, that’s all well and good, but what does that really mean? Everyone shows anger differently. Some people lash out. Others get withdrawn and quiet. Some turn red in the face. Others shake and tremble. 
Showing, on the other hand, looks something like this: Bob’s face turned red and his eyes bulged in their sockets. This gives a vivid visual. I don’t have to tell you Bob is angry. I’m showing you.
Yes, it uses more words than simply saying he’s mad, but those words paint a picture and provide something for your imagination to work with. I also find it more poetic. The description is like a brush stroke on a canvas. A splash of red gives you the meaning.
I see this more with independently-published fiction. My assumption is that it’s due to a lack of editing. A publishing house will assign an editor to read and review a manuscript and send it back to the author with requested revisions. Indie-published books are generally one person doing it all. And I know, I’ve self-published my own work and yes, it’s a lot to deal with.
What I try to keep in mind when I’m writing fiction is to show as much as I can. Describe everything. It’s better to throw everything on the page and clean it up later. It’s easier to cut words later than to try and add them in while editing.
For what it’s worth, I’m not complaining or pointing fingers at specific writers. I think this is advice that all fiction writers need to keep on their radar. If you want to keep your readers engaged, paint them a picture, show as much as you can, and give their imaginations the opportunity to participate.
RB