SWRT 245 | Emotions: their effect on story and reader

March 17, 2022

person typing on MacBook Pro on brown wooden table during daytime photo

This week, Alida and Kathryn talk about emotions. A critical element of any story, it’s not always obvious why or when we need them. Even trickier is how to put a feeling into words that translate beyond meaning, that actually make the reader feel what the character is feeling or something more. Crafting words on the page with the goal of emotional depth, intensity, or power is a worthwhile goal for any writer.

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

What we talked about:

What is the role of emotion in story? (0:38)

What about characters without emotion, or different ways of expressing emotion? (2:18)

How do you handle different emotions and expressions of emotion? (5:30)

Use that empathetic connection! (7:55)

You can’t rely on the internal for emotion. (9:00)

Remember the interplay between characters. (12:45)

Use a variety of emotions, even if the situation remains the same. (13:13)

Do we feel the emotion we are trying to write? (14:35)

Is a story without an emotional charge an unsuccessful story? (17:30)

Don’t neglect the character side of your story. (20:30)

Using the emotion as a surprise for the reader. (21:40)

What are some problems with emotion? (22:55)

LINKS

Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.

Things we mentioned:

Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
As We See It
Murder on the Orient Express

Want more about these topics? Check out:

SWRT 007 Arcless Protagonists

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

← Previous Next →

Do you enjoy the show?

Do you learn something every week?

Do you feel like you have company on your writing journey?

Looking for craft?

About Your Hosts

Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.

Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.

Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com