To depict character emotion beyond the cliches -- slamming things down and shouting when angry, dancing and singing when joyful -- takes having felt the emotion yourself as a writer or the intuitive ability to detect the subtle exaggeration of common external behaviors that signal deeper emotion.
We are not always encouraged to acknowledge our true emotions -- especially so, women, or so I wonder. Women of a certain generation, mine, were taught to be the peacemakers at all cost, to sweep the raw, edgy emotions out of sight of others which also became more comfortable for ourselves, too.
No wonder many of us have difficulty showing authentic human emotions in our characters in true and fresh ways.
Subsequent generations have been encouraged to explore feelings and express them more honestly. I wonder if that is true and makes it any easier to conjure up unique shows of emotion??
The little notebook and pencil you carry with you everywhere comes in handy to record people's show of emotion -- both authentic and inauthentic emotions.
(NOTE: Step #7 in the Plot Series: How Do I Plot a Novel, Memoir, Screenplay?
should be up later today)
1 Comments on Depicting Character Emotion, last added: 9/23/2010
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Good suggestion about the notebook. I'm always searching for good ways to convey authentic emotion. Thanks!