The Emotional Craft - Of Fiction

If you say a character is "sad," you’ve given the reader a label. If you describe the character’s inability to wash the single coffee mug left in the sink, you’ve given them the feeling.

Avoid "He felt," "She noticed," or "He thought." Removing these filters puts the reader directly inside the character’s nervous system. Filtered: He felt the room grow cold. Immersive: A sharp chill cut through his sweater. 3. Subtext: The Power of What Isn't Said The Emotional Craft of Fiction

Use short, choppy sentences. Fragments. Rapid-fire thoughts. If you say a character is "sad," you’ve

The environment should reflect or contrast the character's internal state. " "She noticed

Emotion only lands if the reader understands what is at risk.