I'm Oh So Emotional!

That revising and rewriting that I was whining about last month? It has turned into a blast! A fun-filled adventure where I’m finally able to “show, don’t tell.” Oh, I’ve studied that golden rule and tried to write by it but failed all to often. Now, I’m inserting physical actions and sensory details that bring my characters to life.  
 
How? Credit goes to Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi’s marvelous book, The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression. It was recommended by a Sisters In Crime (SinC) peer for writers like me who struggle with imbuing characters with emotions. It makes sense that I would falter here because I was raised to never express emotions: Suck it up, buttercup! Never show your emotions – people will take advantage of it. Others will think you are weak! What a bunch of foolish rot.
 
Angela and Becca (I use first names because with heartfelt gratitude I feel they are my BFFs these days) provide tremendous insight on how physical manifestations of emotions and nonverbal elements in dialogue can allow our characters to express their feelings. I won’t need to “tell” readers what is going on – they are already responding to the characters’ emotions. Then the authors offer 250 pages of physical signs, behaviors, internal sensations, and mental responses to bring our writing to life. No excuses now: Show, don’t tell.