Following the in-depth article Emotion Makes the Plot article about tips for creating emotion in your characters, I offer the following.
Use of the following behaviors, which impede effective communication, are effective for creating conflict and tension and deepen character:
Walking away
Sarcasm
Blame
Short Temper
Withdrawal
Not listening
Talking over
Looking away
Shouting
Anger
Criticism
Intellectualizing
Debating the complaint
Threatening to leave
Counter-complaints
(List is thanks to my dear friend, Teresa LeYung Ryan, and Emillo Escudero. Thanks!)
Gotta run. More later.
Hope these help....
4 Comments on More on Emotion and Plot, last added: 2/17/2010
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great list of indicators!
That's really helpful. Thanks!
As a reader.. I get so frustrated with non-effective communication. Sometimes I just put the book down so I don't have to deal.
Good points! These are nice ways to build tension.