I love you… Yo te amo… Je t'aime…
No matter what words you use, they are simply just words. And since inflection in the voice is hard to convey in the written word, it’s how you show it that can make all of the difference.
He said, “I love you.” Did he say it sadly, passionately, desperately? And how did he show it?
Think back to the last time you told someone how you were feeling and left yourself completely vulnerable. A guy or girl can show how much she loves her partner by the things she does. Giving your partner a look across a room, holding hands, sharing a secret smile. In a novel the hero might even present the heroine with a beautiful and lush bouquet, notice and remember important things about her, or surprise her with a dinner out to celebrate an important date.
Giving your character actions to back up words will give that character depth and make him sound more confident and real.
The same thing goes for other emotions as well, such as combining a statement of anger with a slamming door, or sadness with trembling hands.
As a writer remember that you have more than just dialogue at your disposal. You can “set the stage” with visual or auditory suggestions. Comment on how unclear a shadow is to show how dismal the day’s weather is, or talk about the shrill din of laughter around a schoolyard to give your reader the feeling of lots of kids playing together.
“Show don’t tell” is a rule among writers. We are not TELLING you a story, we want you to experience it along with our characters. Show don’t tell is much better suited to fiction than non-fiction works, however unless you want a dry dissertation consisting of facts alone you should use some description in non-fiction as well.
How would you show happiness over a small victory if you were acting this out on a stage? Use what you would do on stage, like jumping for joy or waving your fists in the air.
The next time your character says “I love you” imagine him acting it out on stage and convey those images to the words your readers will read.
Writing lesson : Write about your day. Make sure to include the sensations you experienced such as the smell of pretzels from that vendor you passed in the park today, or the warmth of the sun shining down on your face.
Writing prompt: List five (5) things a character might do for each of the following emotions:: Anger, Love, Sadness, Confusion, Happiness.
