How to Show Hidden Emotion and Subtext

Everybody lies.
You do.
I do.
And our characters certainly do, too.

It’s a defense mechanism, really. When a person is uncomfortable, under pressure, or doesn’t feel safe, they hold back. It might be information, that they really want or need, their true opinions, or something else. But under it all, what’s really being hidden is EMOTION.

In fiction, we see this happen in almost every dialogue exchange. Our characters say one thing but feel another, and they carefully hide their true emotions to avoid exposure and vulnerability. They worry others will judge them, view them as weak, or use their emotions against them.

This provides quite the challenge for writers, because they must show what’s on the surface AND what’s hidden (subtext) so readers are always in the loop.

Register Now: MARCH 20TH WEBINAR
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Join Angela as she digs into a myriad of ways we can reveal what’s unspoken or hidden in dialogue exchanges and beyond, including our character’s true motivations and feelings. (If you struggle with showing fresh emotion, this is the webinar for you!)

This two-hour session is only $20. Visit the link below to register:

Hidden Emotion & Subtext: Making Dialogue Crackle with What Isn’t Said

The post How to Show Hidden Emotion and Subtext appeared first on WRITERS HELPING WRITERS®.

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