The Character of Emotion

We define ourselves as beings of reason but it is our emotions that define us.  Emotion cannot be recorded, measured or even accurately predicted but it has the power to continually reshape the world, from the face of the planet down to the course of our own lives.  Emotion can uplift and it can destroy.  It can inspire in one moment and bury one in the darkest depths of depression the next, robbing us of self, purpose and passion.

I feel that studying the intricacies of the heart is an absolute must for any writer.  And not just our own hearts, but writers must have empathy in order to examine and attempt to understand the emotions of others.  If we fail our characters emotionally, they remain flat, unrelatable, boring, unappealing.  Think of real emotion as the breath of life that we breath into our creations to make them jump off the page and, in my case, grab me by the balls and take me where they want to go.

I find that I lean too much toward showing emotional reactions then internal narratives that give the how’s and whys of a character’s feelings.  I often spend a lot of time in the second draft filling in some of these gaps, trying to find a balance.

What is your view of emotion as a writer or as a reader?  How do you use emotion when plotting or deciding what path a character will choose?

Listening to :Lacuna Coil - Swamped With Lyrics