How can I make a character's emotions bolder and more obvious without overemphasizing?
How can I make a character's emotions bolder and more obvious without overemphasizing?
On SE I asked a similar question about how to emphasize more. But I want to find a good balance that won't end in my overemphasizing on anything or seeming to exaggerated. I'd prefer to make my character seem as "real" and "natural" as possible while still making an impact.
3 answers
It's not clear what you are looking for, especially since the basic options are obvious:
- Italics: No, we are looking for a blue car.
- Bold: All purchases are final. No warranty is implied.
- Caps: PUT THE GUN DOWN NOW!
Of course you can use combinations of the above to suite the situation. With three orthogonal binary options, there are a total of 23 = 8 possibilities (including no emphasis at all). Any of them could be appropriate in a particular context or writing convention.
Show emotions through actions, body language, and dialogue rather than stating them. Use subtle details, reactions, and context to convey feelings, letting readers infer intensity while maintaining realism and avoiding exaggeration.
0 comment threads
2 comment threads