Writing Realistic Character Emotions Without Slipping into Melodrama

Evoking Emotion Through Subtlety, Detail, and Trust in the Reader

Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

Ever read a scene where a character was “devastated” or “angry,” and instead of feeling their emotion, you just noted it and moved on? That’s the difference between telling the reader how a character feels versus showing it in a way that sparks emotion in the reader, too. The best writing doesn’t announce emotions — it evokes them.

If you’re trying to make your characters’ emotions feel real (and not like a soap opera), here’s how to move beyond labels like “sad,” “happy,” or “furious” and into the realm of felt experience — the kind that makes your reader ache, laugh, or hold their breath right alongside your character.

Use physical reactions that feel specific and human

The first tip is an easy one. Instead of writing “She was nervous,” show us what nervous looks and feels like. Does her throat tighten? Do her palms itch with sweat? Is she suddenly aware of every sound in the room?

Specific descriptions of physical reactions are more effective than vague telling because they reach the reader’s heart, not their mind. Readers understand emotions best when they feel them in their own…