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Hidden Emotions: How To Tell Readers

Kawanee Hamilton

Hidden Emotions: How To Tell Readers What Characters Don’t Want To Show –

One of the struggles that comes with writing is when a character feels  vulnerable  and so tries to hide their emotions as a result.  Fear of emotional pain, a lack of trust in others, instinct, or protecting one’s reputation are all reasons he or she might repress what’s going on inside them. After all, people do this in real life, and so it makes sense that our characters will too.  Protecting oneself from feeling exposed is as normal as it gets.

But where does that leave writers who STILL have to show these hidden emotions to the reader (and possibly other characters in the scene)?

Here is a list of possible TELLS that will convey to readers that more is going on with your Protagonist than it seems:

A voice that breaks, drops or raises in pitch;
a change in speech patterns Micro hesitations (delayed speech, throat clearing, slow reaction time) showing a lack of commitment
A forced smile, laugh or verbally agreeing/disagreeing in a way that does not seem genuine Cancelling gestures (smiling but stepping back; saying No but reaching out, etc.)
Hands that fiddle with items, clothing and jewellery

See more at: http://writershelpingwriters.net/2014/07/hidden-emotions-telling-characters-dont-want-show/#sthash.UMILNlS8.dpuf

Published by Kawanee Hamilton

Kawanee was born in Alexandria Louisiana but her first real memories are of Russellville Arkansas. She's always loved to read, and has always had an vivid imagination. She grew up in a house where almost everyone read, they didn't need a TV although she could still be found planted on her butt in front of her grandma's TV watching cartoons on Saturday mornings. She made up her first story with her mother when her cat died; it was about where pets go when they die. She continued to create stories from bad dreams she had and her dad would help her change nightmares to stories. They would sit up in a chair until the scary went away. He told her that: "Dreams, good or bad, are just stories your mind makes up. You are the author of your dreams; if you don't like them rewrite them. " She was hooked and has continued to read and write stories drawing from dreams, sights and just pure imagination. She just recently decided she'd like to try and get published and fail than wonder what if. Her story continues but where it goes from here is up to you, the Reader... She hopes you'll join her in finding out where her journey goes from here!

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