Greetings, lovely people! It's great to be back with another post in my 'Show Don't Tell' series! I hope you've all been doing well. Without further ado, let's dive right into today's topic: anger.
Anger is a powerful and complex emotion that can manifest in many ways. It can range from a mild irritation to a full-blown rage, and can be triggered by a variety of factors, including frustration, injustice, or hurt. While it's natural to want to avoid anger in our personal lives, it can actually be a useful tool when it comes to creative writing.
When it comes to writing, anger can add depth and complexity to characters and their interactions. By showing a character's anger, we can reveal their motivations, values, and flaws, and create a more dynamic and realistic portrayal of human emotion. Additionally, anger can create tension and conflict in a story, driving the plot forward and keeping readers engaged.
But hey, I'm not here to talk about the nitty-gritty of anger. I'm here to help you learn how to effectively show your character's anger in your writing! So let's dive right in, starting with the powerful tool of body language.
- Clenched fists
- Tightly crossed arms
- Stiff or rigid posture
- Facial expressions like frowning, scowling, or furrowing their brows
- Pacing or restlessness
- Grinding teeth or jaw clenching
- Aggressive gestures like pointing or shaking a finger
- Staring or glaring
- Raised voice or shouting
- Heavy breathing or sighing
- Pounding a fist on a surface
- Tightened or bulging neck muscles
- Sweating or flushed skin
- Looking away or avoiding eye contact
- Physical violence, such as hitting or throwing objects
- Tensing or flexing muscles
- Clenching or unclenching fists repeatedly
- Baring teeth or showing a snarl
- Raising eyebrows or narrowing eyes
- Rolling eyes or making sarcastic facial expressions
- Biting or chewing on their lips
- Tapping their foot or fingers impatiently
- Leaning in aggressively or invading personal space
- Hunching over or making themselves appear smaller
- Using a monotone or clipped tone of voice
- Holding their breath or exhaling loudly
- Clapping hands sarcastically or making dismissive hand gestures
- Making fists and shaking them at someone
- Puffing up their chest or standing tall to appear more imposing
- Stomping their feet or making loud footsteps.
- Scrunching their nose or flaring nostrils
- Puckering or twisting their mouth
- Tugging or pulling at their hair or clothing
- Crossing or uncrossing their legs or ankles abruptly
- Bending or clenching their toes or curling their toes tightly
- Bouncing or tapping their knee rapidly
- Grinding or rubbing their hands together
- Picking at their nails or skin
- Covering their face or eyes with their hands
- Throwing their head back in frustration or exasperation.
- Raising or lowering their voice
- Slamming things down too hard that they are carrying.
- Pursing their lips and nodding.
- Running their tongue on the inside of their cheek.
- Stalking instead of walking
- Scratching their head or neck vigorously
- Pulling or tugging at their ears
- Biting their tongue or inside of their cheek
- Flinching or tensing up when someone approaches them
- Nodding their head sharply or repeatedly
- Squeezing or gripping an object tightly, such as a pen or a phone
- Slamming doors or drawers
- Puffing out their cheeks or blowing air out forcefully
- Fidgeting or shifting their weight from foot to foot
- Raising one or both eyebrows in surprise or anger.
- Shrugging off someone's touch or pushing them away
- Curling their lips or sneering
- Tilting their head back and closing their eyes
- Scrunching up their face in disgust or disapproval
- Stomping their foot or kicking an object
- Folding their arms tightly across their chest
- Clutching their stomach or chest
- Rubbing their hands together quickly
- Stiffening their body or freezing in place
- Turning their back on someone or walking away abruptly.
- Making a fist and pressing it into their other hand
- Running a hand through their hair in frustration
- Holding their hand to their forehead or temple
- Biting their lower lip or the inside of their cheek
- Tensing their jaw and grinding their teeth
- Clenching their fists behind their back or in their pockets
- Tugging at their collar or tie
- Staring daggers or giving someone a withering look
- Curling their toes or flexing their feet
- Drumming their fingers or tapping their nails on a surface.
- Covering their mouth with their hand and closing their eyes.
- Scratching or rubbing the back of their neck
- Rubbing their eyes or face vigorously
- Putting their hands on their hips and leaning forward
- Standing up abruptly or pacing back and forth
- Pushing a chair or other object out of the way
- Clapping their hands sharply or slamming them on a surface
- Breathing heavily or audibly
- Hunching their shoulders or shrugging in frustration
There are so many ways to bring your character's anger to life in your writing, and your readers will feel it in their bones! Body language is just one tool in your arsenal, but there are plenty of others to explore. Next up, let's talk about sensory details. While there may be some overlap with body language, there are also unique ways to use sensory details to convey anger.
Sensory details are all about bringing your reader into your character's experience by describing what they feel, see, hear, taste, and smell. But it's not just about surface-level sensations; it's about capturing what your character feels on the inside too. Think about the way anger might make your character's heart race or their vision narrow, or the way it might leave a sour taste in their mouth or make them hyper-aware of certain smells.
- Clenched teeth or jaw
- Rapid heartbeat or pounding in the chest
- Flushed or reddened face
- Sweating or clammy skin
- Heavy breathing or panting
- Muscles tensing or knotting up
- Twitching or trembling limbs
- Ringing in the ears or muffled sounds
- Vision tunneling or blurring
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes
- Pounding or throbbing headache
- Dry mouth or tightness in the throat
- Stomach churning or nausea
- Tingling or itching sensation on the skin
- Increased sensitivity to smells or tastes
- Loss of appetite or overeating
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing
- Racing thoughts or an inability to think straight
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
- Tense or stiff neck and shoulders
- Clammy or shaking hands
- Uncontrollable shaking or shivering
- Rapid speech or stuttering
- Breathy or strained voice
- High-pitched or shrill tone
- Swelling or throbbing veins
- Rapid blinking or eye twitching
- Heavy or labored sighs
- Chills or goosebumps
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Flushed or blotchy skin
- Pacing or restless movements
- Increased energy or restlessness
- Headache or pressure in the temples
- Chest tightness or discomfort
- Dry or sweaty palms
- Fidgeting or tapping feet or fingers
- Frowning or scowling
- Clenching or grinding teeth.
Action is the next layer in showing your character's anger. It's all about capturing the choices they make and the way they interact with their surroundings and other characters while feeling that intense emotion. Maybe they lash out and say things they regret later, or they bottle up their anger and internalize it until it explodes. Maybe they turn to self-destructive behaviors like substance abuse or reckless driving, or they channel their anger into a creative outlet like writing or painting. Whatever actions your character takes, they can reveal a lot about their personality, values, and motivations, and help your readers connect with them on a deeper level.
- Yelling or screaming
- Throwing objects or slamming doors
- Punching or hitting walls
- Physically attacking someone
- Storming out of a room or location
- Refusing to engage in conversation
- Passive-aggressive behavior
- Giving the silent treatment
- Ignoring or avoiding the source of their anger
- Interrupting others or talking over them
- Criticizing or belittling others
- Blaming others for their problems
- Making sarcastic or cutting remarks
- Engaging in risky behavior or taking unnecessary risks
- Excessive drinking or drug use
- Engaging in self-harm or other destructive behaviors
- Seeking revenge or planning retaliation
- Seeking control or power over others
- Using manipulation or coercion to get what they want
- Betraying or sabotaging others
- Withholding affection or love
- Sarcasm
- Eye-rolling
- Mocking or imitating others
- Giving ultimatums
- Exaggerating or lying about their feelings or experiences
- Making threats
- Refusing to compromise
- Refusing to listen or hear other perspectives.
- Getting physically tense or rigid
- Clenching their fists or teeth
- Biting their nails or lips
- Fidgeting or tapping their foot
- Pacing back and forth
- Making abrupt or sudden movements
- Staring or glaring at someone
- Crossing their arms or legs defensively
- Scratching or rubbing their skin
- Crying or showing signs of distress
- Withdrawal or isolation from others
- Demanding attention or validation from others
- Disrupting the peace or harmony in a space or environment
- Refusing to follow rules or guidelines
- Engaging in arguments or fights with others
- Becoming overly competitive or aggressive in their pursuits
- Ignoring advice or guidance from others
- Showing a lack of empathy or compassion towards others
- Being overly critical or nitpicky
- Refusing to apologize or take responsibility for their actions.
- Exhibiting physical symptoms like sweating or shaking
- Making demands or issuing commands to others
- Engaging in reckless or dangerous behavior
- Becoming overly defensive or argumentative
- Engaging in self-destructive behavior or self-sabotage
- Refusing to acknowledge or address the source of their anger
- Blaming themselves for problems that are not their fault
- Seeking out conflict or confrontation with others
- Using passive-aggressive behavior to communicate their anger
- Engaging in obsessive or compulsive behaviors
- Struggling to focus or concentrate due to their anger
- Engaging in self-soothing behaviors like rocking or pacing
- Using humor to mask or downplay their anger
- Becoming distant or disengaged from others.
Now, let's talk about setting. It's not just where your characters are, but how they react to it. This means the environment can be used to show off their anger or even help readers understand why they are feeling angry.
- Secluding themselves in a quiet, isolated part of the environment
- Moving quickly and aggressively through the environment
- Becoming agitated or restless in a peaceful or serene environment
- Ignoring or avoiding other characters in the environment
- Intentionally damaging the environment or objects within it
- Distancing themselves from others or backing away from objects in the environment
- Taking actions that disrupt the peace or harmony of the environment, such as slamming doors or turning over tables
- Focusing on negative aspects of the environment, such as dirt or clutter, and feeling anger towards those elements
- Becoming fixated on a particular aspect of the environment and feeling anger towards anyone who interferes with it.
- Avoiding eye contact with others in the environment
- Making sarcastic or biting comments about the environment
- Displaying impatience or frustration with slow-moving objects or people in the environment
- Purposefully choosing a more hostile or uncomfortable location to match their angry emotional state
Remember how a bright, sunny day with chirping birds and fresh flowers can instantly put you in a happy mood? Well, the same goes for the location in your story. Even without a character present, scenery can influence the way readers perceive the mood. So, when it comes to anger, the location can be used to set the tone just as much as the character's actions and emotions.
- Weather: Dark clouds, lightning, thunder, and heavy rain can create an ominous and angry atmosphere.
- Time of Day: Nighttime or sunset can create a moody and angry atmosphere.
- Location: A rundown or dangerous part of town can create a sense of anger or unease.
- Objects: Broken or destroyed objects can indicate a character's anger and frustration.
- Colors: Dark or vibrant colors like red or black can be used to create a sense of anger.
- Noises: Loud, jarring noises like alarms or sirens can create a sense of anger and urgency.
- Crowds: A crowded or noisy environment can be used to create feelings of anger or irritation.
- Architecture: Cold or sterile environments like hospitals or government buildings can create a sense of anger and frustration.
- Nature: A barren or lifeless landscape can create a sense of anger or despair.
- Animals: Aggressive or hostile animals can be used to create a sense of danger and anger.
Now, let's talk about dialogue. There's nothing quite like a character yelling and cussing up a storm to show their anger, right? It's one of the most powerful ways to convey intense emotions through words. So, buckle up and get ready to explore the ways in which dialogue can be used to show anger in your writing!
- Cursing and using expletives
- Speaking loudly and aggressively
- Interrupting others and speaking over them
- Using sarcastic or mocking tones
- Making threats or using violent language
- Using short, sharp sentences or phrases
- Speaking through gritted teeth or a clenched jaw
- Insulting or belittling others
- Using repetitive or redundant language
- Refusing to engage in conversation or responding with silence.
- Using rhetorical questions that are meant to convey frustration
- Interrupting themselves mid-sentence with a burst of anger
- Repeating a particular phrase or word to emphasize their anger
- Using a dismissive tone to indicate irritation or impatience
- Speaking with a tone that is icy or cold
- Using a monotone voice to convey anger and frustration
- Resorting to name-calling or insults
- Being defensive or argumentative in their responses
- Speaking rapidly and stumbling over their words in their anger
- Using a confrontational or challenging tone to express anger.
And what comes after all of that? Well, my dear friend, when you've exhausted their words, body language, senses, and actions, what's left? That's when you dive into their mind and explore their point of view. You can write about their thoughts and inner dialogue to really capture the depth of their anger.
- Negative thoughts about others or the situation
- Self-criticism and frustration
- Dwelling on past events that caused the anger
- Increased cynicism and pessimism
- A desire for revenge or justice
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks
- Racing or intrusive thoughts
- A feeling of being overwhelmed or out of control
- A sense of injustice or unfair treatment
- Blaming others or external circumstances for their anger
Now we come to the last item on our list - metaphors and analogies. They are frequently used in writing to create colorful and vivid descriptions, and can also effectively convey a character's anger. However, it's important to be careful with their use, as readers can become annoyed if they are overused.
- "Her anger burned like a wildfire, consuming everything in its path."
- "He felt like a coiled snake, ready to strike at any moment."
- "Her anger was a thunderstorm, building and brewing until it finally erupted."
- "His anger was a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any second."
- "She felt like a volcano, with her anger bubbling just below the surface."
- "His anger was a raging river, with powerful currents and dangerous undertows."
- "She felt like a caged animal, trapped and helpless in her anger."
- "His anger was a sharp sword, cutting through everything in its way."
- "She felt like a stormy sea, with her anger churning like the waves."
- "His anger was a blazing inferno, burning everything in its wake."
- "His anger boiled like lava in a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment."
- "Her words sliced through me like a knife, leaving me raw and bleeding with anger."
- "He was a ticking time bomb, just waiting to explode with fury."
- "Her temper was a wildfire, spreading quickly and uncontrollably."
- "His rage was a storm, brewing and building until it unleashed with a violent outburst."
- "She was a snake, coiled and ready to strike with venomous anger."
- "His fury was a thunderous roar, shaking the very foundations of the earth."
- "Her temper was a beast, wild and untamed, impossible to control."
- "His anger was a whirlpool, pulling me down into its dark depths."
- "She was a volcano, her anger a fiery eruption that left nothing but destruction in its wake."
