How to Add Emotion to a Story

Many dull stories consist of characters who show no emotion throughout the tale. Readers have a difficult time connecting with a protagonist who doesn't display any emotion. When writing a story, you want to learn how to add emotion as a way to draw readers in. Read on to learn how to add emotion to a story.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Compose a list of words that incite emotion. Try to use as many of these words as possible when writing your story. However, you want to keep the words appropriate to the plot.

2. Act out an emotion before you write. This helps you picture in your mind the way that your characters appear in a situation. For example, if someone is angry in your story, you might ball up your fists and clench your jaw shut. Translate your actions into descriptions for your story.

3. Keep the emotions natural. Always explain the reasons that the characters feel the way that they do. This allows the readers to understand the characters.

4. Use literary devices to add emotion to your story. Literary devices, such as similes, metaphors and personification, are used often to help describe the feelings of a character.

5. Write from the heart. Writing a story that you are emotionally invested in gives substance to the characters.

Tips & Warnings

• If all else fails, work a death plot or sub-plot into your story. Nothing provokes emotion more than a character handling the death of a loved one.
• Watch out for adding too much emotion to your story. If this occurs, your piece may come off as melodramatic.