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Instead of Making Your Characters Cry, Show Their Emotions
A character might shed tears for many reasons:
anguish, anxiety, defeat, denial, depression, desperation, embarrassment, guilt, humiliation, irritation, loneliness, pain, panic, pride (in someone else), rage, regret, relief, sadness, shame, sympathy
Here are just a few of the ways you could show these emotions:
Anguish:
Sweating
Trembling
Cords standing out on neck
Clenching jaw or grinding teeth
Anxiety:
Fidgeting
Wringing the hands
Rapid, shallow breathing
Clenching interwoven fingers
Defeat:
Lack of eye contact
Slumped posture
Toneless dialogue
Trembling chin
Denial:
Elevated eyebrows
Raised voice
Rapid speech
Wide eyes
Depression:
Head in hands
Hunched shoulders
Shuffling feet, hands in pockets
Lowered head, with gaze on ground or toes
Desperation:
Biting bottom lip
Darting gaze
Pacing
Tugging at hair
Embarrassment:
Coughing
Excessive swallowing
Tugging at clothing
Wincing
Guilt:
Cracking voice
Grimacing
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WRITING HELP: How To Show, Not Tell
RandomA collection of useful words and sentences used to describe scenes or characters in writing a story. Plus, any useful things I encounter like how to write dialogues, flashbacks, and more.
