Whether writing fiction or nonfiction, one key to capturing your readers’ attention is tapping into their emotions. As human beings, we are wired to feel things deeply, so content that stirs our feelings tends to resonate more profoundly.
In this article, we’ll explore some tips for evoking emotion in your writing.
Appeal to Universal Human Experiences
We all share basic experiences as human beings – things like love, grief, fear, joy, etc. If you can tap into these universal emotions in your writing, you are more likely to strike a chord with your readers.
For example, describe a scene where a character loses someone they love. The deep pain of grieving is something most people can relate to. Or write about the triumphant feeling when a character achieves something they’ve worked hard for. That sense of overcoming challenges resonates widely.
Use Sensory Details
Good writing doesn’t just tell readers what happened – it shows them. The key is using vivid sensory details that immerse readers deeply in the scene.
For example, don’t just say a character walked into a dark room. Help readers feel the darkness through details like “a chill went down her spine as she stepped into the inky blackness, the door creaking shut behind her.”
Engage all five senses – sight, smell, sound, taste, touch. The more readers can imagine the scene, the more emotionally invested they become.
Focus on Micro-expressions
When trying to convey emotion, it often comes across best in subtle, fleeting details – a flicker of sadness in someone’s eyes, the trembling of a lower lip, etc.
Rather than bluntly stating “she felt devastated,” show the faintest quiver in your character’s chin that betrays how close she is to breaking down.
Those micro-expressions allow readers to uncover layers of feeling and connect more deeply.
Get Inside Your Characters’ Heads
One very effective way to stir emotion is letting readers directly experience events from your characters’ perspectives. This means getting inside their heads and capturing their internal monologue.
Instead of an external narrator explaining how a character feels, convey their raw thoughts and sensory impressions as they unfold. This first-person perspective forms powerful emotional bonds between readers and characters.
Tap Into Nostalgia
For most people, reminiscing about fond memories from the past – whether childhood playdates, family traditions, first crushes, etc. – tends to be joyful. You can capitalize on this by infusing your writing with nostalgic moments.
Maybe describe the intoxicating scent of chocolate chip cookies baking to help characters recall carefree days of their youth. Or bring back the nervous excitement of sneaking out late to meet up with friends.
When you tap into readers’ nostalgia, it feels like reuniting with an old friend, stirring up warm, familiar feelings.
If you keep these tips in mind as you write, you’ll discover new ways to make your content resonate at an emotional level with readers. That deeper connection goes a long way!