Fear: a vital element for thriller and horror fiction, but also an emotion commonly found in stories of all types. Mastering the expression of fear – and understanding how your characters feel and conquer it – can be an important tool in your writer’s toolbox.
In a post on CrimeReads, writer DiAnn Mills examines the nuances of fear and how you can portray it through your characters. “Our characters show their fears in unique ways that translate into action and internal reaction according to personality, backstory, culture, education, upbringing, social standards, and a host of other life experiences,” Mills says.
Mills examines phobias and how they affect a person and how a person with strong willpower will face their fears and learn from their experiences. She also discusses ways protagonists and antagonists can use their foe’s fears against them. In all, an element of fear can add to your character’s struggles and make their success even sweeter. “The merit of using fear in our stories, no matter what genre, [is that it] adds to the character’s arc while pushing ahead in the plot with stress, tension, and conflict,” Mills says. “A character’s goal must be more powerful than living with the fear.”
