Suzy's Writing Corner - Lesson 5- Characters' Feelings--Show, Don't Tell!

Reach for the Stars! Writing Workshop for Kids

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Suzy's Writing Corner

Welcome to my writing workshop for budding young authors. Learn how to create your characters and "show don't tell" their feelings. Write beginnings that "hook" your readers. Learn to use a "writing camera" to freeze a scene, and more! Download free worksheets. Click LESSON 1 on the left sidebar to begin.
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Sep. 8, 2007

Lesson 5- Characters' Feelings--Show, Don't Tell!

What makes a character (or a person, for that matter) seem real? It's when they act like a real person, showing real feelings, likes, and dislikes. We've spent the last few weeks creating real characters we can use to write stories. We've learned how important it is to give those characters personalities of their own.

Readers want to read about real characters doing exciting and interesting things, with a purpose. One way to give readers a great reading experience is to make sure we always SHOW what are characters are feeling, rather than TELLING our readers what they are feeling. Here is an example of a story that only TELLS. It is a little boring.

Sally was tired. She went to her room to get ready for bed. The room was dark, so she wasn't prepared when a shadow jumped out at her. She was scared, so she cried. Her brother said, "Aw, Sally. It's just me."

Now, here is an example of the author SHOWING the reader how Sally feels:

Sally rubbed her eyes and yawned. She shuffled up the stairs to her room, dragging her tired body behind her. When she opened the door, a dark shadow leaped toward her. Sally shrieked and jumped back. Her eyes grew wide, and her hands shook. Then she burst into tears. "Aw, Sally," her brother said. "It's just me."

Instead of "Sally was tired" I wrote, "Sally rubbed her eyes and yawned." Can't you just see her doing that? I made a picture of that in your head, and you KNOW she is tired.

Instead of saying, "She was scared," I wrote, "Sally shrieked and jumped back. Her eyes grew wide and her hands shook." I created a picture in your head. You figured out Sally was SCARED by the picture I made with my words.

Today's worksheet pages tell you more about how to show your characters' feelings. There are 5 great worksheets for you to read and practice this new skill. I believe that learning how to SHOW what your character is feeling, rather than TELLING the reader what your character is feeling, is one of the most important skills you can learn as a young (or old) author.

I have included in the worksheets a chart of words you can use to SHOW your characters' feelings for a number of common emotions like: happy, sad, frightened, hungry, and more. This is an important chart! Keep it in your folder for handy reference when you need to SHOW what your character is feeling.

Click here for download:
CHARACTERS' FEELINGS

Your assignment:
1) Choose a character from the story you are writing (or make up a character), and choose a feeling (use the chart for ideas). In COMPLETE sentences, write a short scene (like the one above for Sally) that SHOWS your character expressing this feeling.
2) Post it on your blog and then sign Mr. Linky if you want feedback. Then leave a comment. The more you do this, the easier it becomes, and the more "real" your characters become.

Note: There are 2 other examples on how to do this on the worksheets. Study them. Practice. Another idea is to ask someone to act out a feeling. Then YOU write down what you see them doing. That's SHOWING!

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Comments

Oct. 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by 01charger

I hope that I did everything you wanted!
Ashley