Say What Your Character Means

Say What Your Character Means

It's very easy to tell when watching a tv show how the speaker is feeling. If they're happy they will be smiling, sad maybe frowning. And if they're being sarcastic? Well we'll know because of the exaggerated way they will say something.

When writing it's much more difficult to get across how your character is feeling through speech alone. One way is to describe the expression on their face as they are talking, or the situation they are in makes it obvious what they are feeling. Another way to show us how your character is feeling is to just tell us, this is especially good if they are being sarcastic.

Some examples of both are:

• "Finding tribbles on my chair always makes me feel warm inside," he said sarcastically.

• Aedan laughed, "That was a good show. We should perform together again some time."

• "Get out! Get out now!" he yelled in a loud voice.

• Her eyes widened as a giant robot loomed before her, "Help!"

• "He was a good man," she said as tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

Or

• "He was a good man," she remembered fondly.

• "He was a good man?" she asked incredulously.

All of these let us know how the person is feeling by what they say, what their expressions are, the situation and how they say something. It paints us a much richer and vivid picture of what is happening to the character than just saying he said, she said, all of the time. But don't go overboard, she said, he said is still good to use.

So take into account how your character is feeling at any given moment and try to show us that. In fact, show us how they are feeling in your next post. It'll be good practice.

For even more helpful articles check out the Player's Guide