If you say a character is "sad," you’ve given the reader a label. If you describe the character’s inability to wash the single coffee mug left in the sink, you’ve given them the feeling.
Use long, flowing, multi-clausal sentences that meander, mirroring a mind that is lost or heavy. 6. The "So What?" Factor (Stakes) The Emotional Craft of Fiction
Avoid "He felt," "She noticed," or "He thought." Removing these filters puts the reader directly inside the character’s nervous system. Filtered: He felt the room grow cold. Immersive: A sharp chill cut through his sweater. 3. Subtext: The Power of What Isn't Said If you say a character is "sad," you’ve