Emotions in Stories: Readers Feeling Emotions in Paper

by | Jul 21, 2023 | writing tips | 0 comments

Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash

People read to feel something they’ve never felt before. How authors portray emotions in stories can make or break their books.

What makes readers continue through hundreds of pages in a story? Is it the excitement of discovering what happens next, or is it getting caught up in the characters’ emotions in stories?

Undeniably, the combination of both makes a story an excellent stand out. An ingredient of a perfect literary piece is the balance between an intensely paced story and emotionally driven characters. It’s found in the combination of events pushing them to their physical and emotional limits, heightening the readers’ emotions.

A flawless storyline makes a story almost impossible to forget, creating a classic name whenever people think of a genre. But it’s the emotions evoked in these stories that make them sensational.

For instance, think of a story of quiet fear by Cynthia J. Giachino. One of the reasons why it’s well-received is because it offers something new and powerful. It moves its readers, taking them to places in their minds and hearts they’ve never been to. Although the book can be simplified as a story of dismantling trauma, it’s also a story of self-discovery and hope weaved into an emotionally stirring perspective. Sharing the author’s experiences was the plot’s primary focus. The memories that haunt her at night make readers intrigued to continue reading. But the character’s determination to escape the endless cycle of suffering makes the story impressively haunting.

Why Is Evoking Emotions Important in Writing?

Imagine if, unlike Cynthia, authors fail to convey emotions in stories. Instead of creating emotionally stirring events and characters, they make flat and monotonous books. Would readers still be enticed to read?

Regardless of what genre authors write, they all share the same goal, creating stories for the same purpose. They want their readers to go on an unforgettable journey with their characters. Authors want readers to find solace and escape their burdens through their books. But this doesn’t happen writing exciting events one after another. It’s not all about listing scenarios that readers can imagine themselves in. Stories aren’t manuals that plainly instruct readers what to imagine. Instead, they should make readers want to imagine, making them feel how these experiences feel.

Readers don’t jump aboard simply because there’s an opportunity to. Instead, they want to feel the desire to go on these adventures. They want to feel the emotions in stories, and authors must reel them through illustrative descriptions. After all, plots might interest readers, but emotions are in charge of getting them hooked and maintaining interest in the story.

Emotions in stories remind readers they’re reading about humans. These make people willing to be vulnerable with the stories, making them hope, long, and grieve alongside the characters. Evoking emotions reminds readers how it feels to be human and what humanity is all about.

How Do Authors Reflect Emotions in Stories?

How well an emotion is portrayed is a factor that shapes books into soul-snatching masterpieces. But it’s not an easy skill to master. It takes practice to effectively reflect emotions in stories, using a trial-and-error method to know which approach suits a particular feeling better.

Authors constantly talk about showing, not telling. This writing method breathes life into a page of words, making readers easily envision the world authors have created. How can this be used for expressive narrations?

Be Specific in Describing Body Language

There’s no better way to tell an emotion than the character’s body language. How the body reacts during these experiences is a massive part of expressing feelings. However, authors must be careful they avoid falling into clichés. The oversaturation of describing heartbreak as “a tear fell down his cheek” or falling in love through “he felt his heart pumping through his ribs” should be illegal.

Using clichés to describe emotions in stories is too repetitive. They lose their meaning.

When describing emotions, authors should envision themselves experiencing them. They must feel these emotions as though they’re theirs to experience. This way, the body language becomes as authentic as it should be. There’s no room for clichés, and readers can relate more.

Reflect the Character’s Thoughts With the Emotion

When people feel something, they don’t only feel it. Instead, emotions are accompanied by thoughts, whether overthinking or jumping to conclusions. Authors can show their character’s thoughts alongside describing their emotions in stories. This makes the experience more holistic rather than shallow or for narrative purposes. Stories should be just like real life. Characters should experience emotions in ways real people do. Authors must leave behind the archetypal pattern of expressing feelings on paper and strive to be more authentic, even if this means being messy – poetically convoluted.

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