DESCRIPTION: While there are different kinds of discomfort a character could suffer, this entry focuses on physical pain, which is most often associated with an injury or illness. For discomfort that continues for a prolonged period, see CHRONIC PAIN. PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORSPale or blotchy … [Read more...] about The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus: Pain
Search Results for: how to show emotion
Identify Your Character’s Emotional Triggers
Every one has emotional triggers – are you using this to increase the emotional tension in your story? What Does Your Character Think is Their Strength? What does your character pride themselves on having, being, doing, possessing, needing, controlling, etc? Do they rest their identity in any … [Read more...] about Identify Your Character’s Emotional Triggers
Using Physical Pain to Show a Character’s Past Trauma
There doesn’t seem to be much info out there to tell writers how to realistically capture emotions and trauma while still leaving room for plot, characterization, and genre tropes. The most common problem I see is that the character THINKS about their past trauma—they have flashbacks and … [Read more...] about Using Physical Pain to Show a Character’s Past Trauma
How to Showcase Your Character’s Unique Voice
Almost every character should have their own voice—their distinctive way of communicating their worldview. To illustrate, here are three lines from Harry Potter that reveal Hermione’s, Ron’s, and Harry’s individual voices, respectively. "Don't go picking a row with Malfoy, don't forget, he's a … [Read more...] about How to Showcase Your Character’s Unique Voice
A Show-Don’t-Tell Database for Writers
One thing we're known for around here is description. For a dozen years, Becca and I have explored topic after topic, and whether it's settings, emotions, backstory wounds, conflict, weather, or something else, we dive in and find all the ways this storytelling element can be leveraged via … [Read more...] about A Show-Don’t-Tell Database for Writers
Workshop: Using Character Emotion to Wow Readers
Thanks so much for attending this webinar on character emotions and how to write them effectively. I hope you gleaned some practical tips on showing instead of telling so you'll be able to use those techniques to better engage readers. Additional resources you might find helpful: Further … [Read more...] about Workshop: Using Character Emotion to Wow Readers
Use Trauma Strategically To Create An Emotional Arc
Many authors give their characters past trauma that makes life more difficult and at the very least adds internal conflict. But are you strategic with the kind of trauma you choose—the severity, the onset, the symptoms and coping mechanisms? What’s the character’s emotional arc and how does the … [Read more...] about Use Trauma Strategically To Create An Emotional Arc
Describing a Character’s Emotions: Problems and Solutions
Characters are the heart of a story, but what really draws readers in is their emotions. Only...showing them isn't always easy, is it? Like us in the real world, characters will struggle. Life is never all cherries and diamonds; in fact, it's our writerly job to make sure reality fish-slaps … [Read more...] about Describing a Character’s Emotions: Problems and Solutions
Workshop: Brainstorming an Emotional Wound
Hi guys! I hope you found our session on Emotional Wounds helpful. It's such an important piece of information and with it, you'll be able to write character behavior authentically and writing stunning character arcs! Additional resources you might find helpful: Further Reading What Is … [Read more...] about Workshop: Brainstorming an Emotional Wound
How to Write Emotion Well: Know Your Character
We've all read stories where our breath slows, the world falls away, and the page disappears. We're somewhere else, a place that isn't real, yet is. We're with people who don't exist, yet somehow do. We see what they see. Feel what they feel. We are in the moment, captive, compelled, not just … [Read more...] about How to Write Emotion Well: Know Your Character
Show-Don’t-Tell Help
Show-Don't-Tell is one of the most common pieces of advice...so common that many writers get sick of hearing about it: Yeah, yeah, show, don't tell. I got it, I got it. (But if it was easy to 'get' then editors, agents, and critique partners probably wouldn't red pen those three words so often, … [Read more...] about Show-Don’t-Tell Help
Workshop: Hidden Emotion & Subtext
Hi guys! Thanks so much for joining me for a session on hidden/repressed emotions and subtext. I hope it was a helpful workshop and it gave you lots of ideas on how to write fresh emotional description! Below are some additional resources you might find helpful. Further Reading: … [Read more...] about Workshop: Hidden Emotion & Subtext