All successful novels, no matter what genre, have one thing in common: emotion. It lies at the core of every character’s decision, action, and word—all of which drive the story. Without emotion, a character’s personal journey is pointless. Stakes cease to exist. The plot line becomes a dry riverbed of meaningless events that no reader will take time to read. Why? Because above all else, readers pick up a book to have an emotional experience. They read to connect with characters who provide entertainment and whose trials may add meaning to their own life journeys. This is why wielding emotion on the page is an art form, and one that all writers must learn to master.

Showing how a character feels is not always easy. Many writers find their descriptions bogged down by the same common gestures and cues (frowns, shrugs, eyes that flash, a racing heartbeat, etc.) and while for a specific emotion these may be accurate choices, they may not make for compelling reading.

Instead, we need to deliver fresh images and expressions of emotion, ones that fit perfectly with who our characters really are. This is what will draw the audience into the character’s world, and especially into the POV character’s experience. If we can bring them in close enough, we can build empathy and encourage readers to become invested so they root for the protagonist and care about the outcome of the story.