Here’s a short outline of what we will discuss in the Emotion Without Purple Prose workshop.
I. Introduction — Why is it hard for the readers to experience emotion?
Secret: We need to stop telling them what the character feels and make readers feel it for themselves.
II. Writer’s Tools
A. Plot Structure: How can we writers use structure to increase emotion?
1. The Three Acts and Character Journey
2. The Power of Theme
B. Scene Design: How can we design scenes for greater emotional power?
1. The Magic Rule of Three
2. The Glue of Motif
C. Description: How can we infuse our setting description with emotion?
1. Concrete Detail
2. Filtering through Character
D. Emotion Is Physical: How can we help reader experience emotion through physical narration?
1. Body Language
2. Tight POV
III. Conclusion: “Show, don’t tell,” is all-important in writing emotion. However, most important is to focus on creating the reader experience rather than just the character’s– “If the character cries, the reader doesn’t have to.”