In a post on Writers Helping Writers, Becca Puglisi identifies three emotion problems you might have in your story’s opening and tips for avoiding them. The problems include:
- Not Enough Emotion. If your character isn’t feeling something, your reader won’t either. If your scene doesn’t affect your character’s emotions, why does it matter? “The key here is that the author needs to make sure something impactful is happening,” Puglisi writes. “Once you’ve ensured that meaningful things are going on, the character will need to respond appropriately to what’s happening, even in a small way.”
- Emotion Has Been Told. When you tell your reader what your hero is feeling, it will probably feel flat. But when you show emotion, it will feel more real to your reader. “Their own feelings are stimulated and a bond begins to form, one that will pull the reader further into the story,” Puglisi explains. Keep in mind that you can show your hero’s emotions with small details, such as fidgeting, tone of voice, or quick thoughts.
- Too Much Emotion. Too much emotion can make your writing feel melodramatic. If your character’s reactions are over dramatic or don’t make sense based on the situation, you’ll do more to push your reader away, instead of drawing them in. Puglisi recommends investigating your character’s emotional range. “Each person has a unique range of emotions, meaning, you can have two people in the same situation and they’ll express themselves differently,” she explains. “Knowing what this looks like for your character will enable you to write their responses in the way that best fits their personality.” With this idea in mind, you’ll be better able to move your protagonist gradually from a state of contentment to anger or fear, avoiding sudden bursts of emotion that may feel more comical than real.
