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Writing Emotions for Reader Engagement

Writer's picture: Martha ChargotMartha Chargot

Readers love books that take them on a ride. They want something that is both spectacular and relatable, and connecting with readers through their own emotional experiences is the best way to make your book feel authentic.


Lean into the Right Feelings

There are times that emotions seriously get in the way in our everyday lives. Or at least they do for me. This is also true for your characters’ emotions. There are absolutely times when it doesn’t make sense to write in emotions, but if you feel drawn to it, there is likely a reason why. We’re all human, and our emotions are what heighten our stories. So big plot points are likely to come with big emotions. By connecting to them, you’ll open up your readers’ feelings as well.


Engage Multiple Senses

Our senses are like a fast track to make meaningful memories. As writers, we’re naturally drawn to build scenes that can be seen, but engaging multiple senses tricks your readers into remembering moments more clearly down the line. They also open up more opportunities for readers to access their own memories tied to the emotions of the scene, especially with the sense of smell. When I read about warm sugar cookies fresh from the oven, a feeling of calm and safety and love wash over me as a whisp of a memory of my grandmother comes to me. What do they bring up for you?


Use Personal Experience to Avoid Cliché

All of us have experienced a shiver down our spine when we’re cold or scared, but reading about them over and over has dulled their effectivity. Using clichés like this will have your readers skipping over high-intensity moments, but writing down your emotional experiences when you have them can give you something to draw from later. I keep a note in my phone for this, which is why I’m able to tell you that when I feel stressed out about running late, pain radiates from my joints in my shoulders all the way down to my fingertips like a smoldering log. Putting that in my novels may not immediately relate to all readers, but it still is more attention-grabbing than something they’ve read a hundred times before.


Emotions should be woven through moments in your plots to help raise stakes and deepen characters. Once your story structure is solid and ready for closer care, line edits that deal with paragraph-by-paragraph analysis of your text is a great place to find room for emotions.

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