If you’re new to writing or you’re on a journey to soak up whatever knowledge you can find, you may be wondering why writers decide to do what they do.
Write down a handful of scenes on notecards, and shuffle them around to suit whatever thought process you’re trying to work out.
It’s a useful tool so that writers have an idea of what their story is about, and scenes help them to organize and structure that story.
So, why write them at all?
Because scenes are a way for writers to illustrate what the story is all about.
So let’s talk more about the nuances of the scene that you’re trying to set for the reader.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a novelist, short story author, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, or poet.
The tips I share with you are merely to get you to think.
Let’s think about this scenario.
It can be terribly frustrating to read a character that you can’t get emotionally invested in.
And aggravating to read about someone that you don’t care about it.
We’ve all seen it happen.
You’re probably wondering what is it about them that makes them so unlikable.
Maybe it was a deliberate craft choice. Maybe the author wanted you to read them that way.
Or maybe the atmosphere around the character is decidedly unpalatable and you can’t get on board.
That happens frequently to me as a reader and a writer.
The next question is: how do you avoid it?
I spoke at length about body language last week.
But in what ways can body language suit the story that you’re trying to tell?
Your character could:
Show, Don’t Tell Tip Number One
Show Interest
Lean in, ask questions, strong eye contact, smile, nod, speak in short bursts, add to the conversation, open body posture, light physical touches
Show, Don’t Tell Tip Number Two
Disinterest
Lean back, angle away, crossed arms, wandering gaze, easily distracted, poor eye contact, rarely speaking, shrugging
Show, Don’t Tell Tip Number Three
Nerves
Jittery, jerky, fiddling with wristwatch, touching things, broken eye contact, swallowing, looking down, looking away, touching throat, rubbing neck, hesitating, speech trailing off, non-committed
Show, Don’t Tell Tip Number Four
Frustration & Anger
Tight voice, low tone, directly to the point, short sentences, facial and muscular tension, curled hands, strong grip, thrust-out chest, intense stare, unblinking, rigid neck
Show, Don’t Tell Tip Number Five
Subterfuge
Darting eye contact, flashing smile, talking too fast, always wanting to change the topic, misdirection, delayed reactions, steering the conversation, cutting people off, defensiveness, increased personal distance, blocking, closed body posture
You’ll notice how many of these categories overlap.
There’s a reason for that, and it’s because the art of showing emotion on the page is hard to do.
It’s up to you as the writer to decide how you want to portray that.
Let’s connect!
I’m here to help you on your creative journey. So ask me anything.
You can connect with me on Discord during the week, email me directly, or book your FREE 15-minute consultation.
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