How to Effectively Write and Convey Emotion in Your Story

When we think of writing, one of the first things that comes to mind is the portrayal of emotion. Usually, this portrayal comes to us in visions of characters crying, laughing, screaming, shouting, singing, etc. But what if I told you that writing emotion can be so much more nuanced than that? What if I said that you don’t need full use of a character to channel emotions?

As a matter of fact, writing becomes more layered and deeply rich when we use different tactics to convey emotion, more than just describing a character who’s crying or lashing out.

Below, I’ve compiled some tips for how to get the most out of writing emotion. These tips should help you flex your writing muscle and hopefully bring a deeper nuance to your stories which will delight and engage your readers.

Dont label emotion

To write emotion effectively we have to keep in mind the golden rule of writing: show, don’t tell.

Telling is important, and there’s a time and place for it. But in scenes where emotion is an important part of the story, tied to the theme and the character’s development, we need to find more poignant ways of describing being sad without saying “She was sad.”

Furthermore, even when we say, “Sadness erupted throughout her body like a flood” by using “sadness” we’re still using the abstract word “sadness.” To effectively convey the character’s sadness we can use specificity and concrete language (remember that post?).

Using specificity to show emotion

When we use specificity we’re narrowing down on the character. We’re looking at them through a microscope, portraying their emotional DNA. How is *this” character going to react to *this* situation?

You’re going to have to think about your character and who they are as an individual. Not everyone reacts the same way.

Is the character easy to anger? Maybe they ball their fists like they’re ready to fight. Are they perhaps more easygoing? Do they react to an angering situation by reciting famous proverbs?

You need to know your character inside and out to know how they will react emotionally and how you’re going to portray that reaction.

Physical reactions can get old fast

Ever written a character and after several go-throughs of your manuscript realized that they bite their lip when they’re nervous a lot? Like, A LOT? You search and find that every time a character angers they feel “fire coursing through their veins”? 539 times to be specific?

Characters need their emotional reactions to be described in physical terms, there’s no arguing with that. However, too much can get old fast.

Consider cause and effect

When thinking of story and plot, we have to consider cause and effect.

Think of it like this: An event happens which causes an emotional reaction. The emotional reaction propels a new action which creates a new event, thus moving the plot forward. The new event causes a new emotional reaction, which causes a new action. This new action will correspond with yet a new event. Rinse and repeat.

Beyond describing the physical manifestations of emotions, writers should also keep in mind the ripple effect of an emotion. How is it going to affect the plot going forward? How is it going to keep the wheel turning?

Use recollection, reflection, & setting

Flashbacks are a useful tool to use when trying to show emotion. A character feeling betrayed may recall a time in the past when they felt the same way. They may even recall something that happened to someone else or reflect upon any experience that is similar to this new one.

Setting can also help writers convey emotion. A commonly used example: rain falling to show a character feeling depressed. Confusion could be represented by having the character standing in a messy room. Again, consider your character and who they are and how they interact individually with the elements in a setting.

Remember that less is more

When writing emotion, it’s helpful to remember that less is more and to lean into subtlety. Sometimes writers may be led to believe that to effectively describe emotion one must intensify the description of the emotion. But this isn’t true.

When emotions are portrayed with restraint, they resonate more deeply with readers. Subtlety invites readers to engage their own experiences and imaginations, creating a more personal and impactful connection to the characters. By showing rather than telling, writers can evoke emotions through nuanced dialogue, body language, and small but significant actions.

That’s not to say that you aren’t allowed to ever have any instances where a character has a good, deep-chested, snotty-nosed cry. Or that a character can never go fully ballistic. Of course they can, and of course you can always choose to write them this way. There are moments in a narrative that will call for this sort of portrayal. So long as the narrative can back this sort of reaction, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with showing a purely physical emotional reaction.

If you’re wondering how to layer your story with more nuance, an editor can help you find those places in your story where you can tweak and lift your writing to another level. If you’re curious, be sure to email me so we can discuss your concerns and figure out how I can best help you get your story to read how you want it to read!