Emotion only lands if the reader understands what is at risk.
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
Use short, choppy sentences. Fragments. Rapid-fire thoughts. Emotion only lands if the reader understands what is at risk
Using the weather (rain for sadness) is a classic trope, but Emotional Contrast is often more effective. A character receiving devastating news on a bright, beautiful spring day emphasizes their isolation from the rest of the world. multi-clausal sentences that meander
In fiction, emotion isn't something a character has ; it’s something the reader feels .