Don't "tell" stories, present narrative with immersion. Understand that "story" is a narrative with structure- the energy within that structure comes from the adversarial elements (the struggle). Catchphrase to live by: Stakes underpin struggle. It's not enough to fight and scramble and feel anguish. Why is all that stuff happening? What are the protagonists trying to protect or get back?
What do those stakes mean to the people protecting them? World, characters, and plot are equally important and are synergistically linked. Viewpoint is key to immersion, and immersion is key to the reader's attention and loyalty. Give your readers a vivid world, relatable characters, and a riveting story struggle and they will follow as long as you keep them entertained by keeping them hungry for more and more detail and revelation. The Five 'V's of Strong Narrative Vantage - Viewpoint - Visual - Vivid - Visceral Vantage - Think like a director ... How do we transition in?
Who is present in the scene, and where are they in relation to one another? Where will the action be focused and how will the scene progress? Key to vantage is 'advantage' ... what is the PURPOSE of the scene. What are the agendas of the characters? Keep each character's through-line in mind as you craft the scene experience. Viewpoint - Have you laid a suitable descriptive foundation for the scene establishing not only the place but the mood and tone ... especially in regards to the emotional state and physical condition of the viewpoint protagonist through which the scene is depicted.
Visual - Characters should never be talking heads. Even if they are sitting at a table or whatever. They handle objects, they have expressions, they gesture, they fuss with themselves, and do other things that visually indicate things. Vivid - A good scene is more than just the visible objects, it's sounds, smells, touch, and even taste. You don't need all of them in the scene but constantly be looking for ways to ADD to the experience. Because of our reptile brains, smell and taste are super evocative to a reader.
A part of being vivid is an active voice and a sense of motion. The rattle of leaves, the sway of branches, the ripple of water, clouds drifting. Light radiating, illuminating.... casting shadows that dance or slice in the background. ANYTHING but static... unless static is the intent and mood. Visceral - In the realm of show not tell, you show emotions inside the viewpoint protagonist by reporting their physical state. Emotions are reflected in things like the perceived temperature of the skin, the speed of the heart, the tightness of the throat and chest.