Writing Tips — Emotions
Revealing a character’s emotions on the page is crucial for making them more real to the reader (and sometimes, the writer! How many of us have started to write in a character’s emotions and then realise we don’t actually know how the character feels? This is an exercise that sometimes flags up that I need to get to know / develop my characters more.)
Conveying emotion allows the reader to connect with a character, empathise with, route for & feel for them. We can also can convey lessons of the heart when we delve into the world of emotions.
What are some ways we can convey emotions in a story?
Here are some of my examples for conveying fear:
- Body Language — He curled into a ball, shutting his eyes.
- Internal Sensations — Her gut clenched and her breath came fast.
- Character’s Thoughts — “Can I get out of here? Will I be trapped forever?”
- Voice — Her voice trembled.
- What the character says — “Please help, I’m lost.”
- Description — Lila was so afraid her knees were shaking.
At Story Club, my young writers’ workshop, we discussed these and more. Thanks to Hetty for bringing in metaphor — a beautiful, creative way to show emotion. A cave can signify so many things (trapped, darkness, feeling stuck). Weather can reflect a mood (a storm reflecting anger/trauma, a rainbow signifying relief). Metaphors like these pulls the reader in further as the whole environment (landscape, setting, weather) conveys the emotion.
Wonderful scenes were written by all six story-clubbers, full of emotion. A fiery scene by Mine showed the anger of grief. Amani revealed a more watery concern and sadness. Amber used the ocean to scream out all the stuck feelings, in a climactic scene. Hetty revealed how deep worry can choke us up, our voice turning weak and trembly. Coco laced two dramatic storylines, both with strong emotions, together (new life and new death) and Mika contrasted a tiny robin with a giant dragon, both facing a dark terror.
Enjoy reading and writing those emotional scenes, everyone. Don’t forget to dive deep!
