30. Showing emotions by asking yourself 8 questions

How do we show what we or our characters are feeling so our readers can experience those emotions for themselves as the scene unfolds? 

In this episode, you’ll learn eight questions you can ask yourself so you can better visualize what those emotions look and feel like and thus how to show your readers. 

Tune in so you can also gain tips on how to identify when you’re telling, instead of showing, and when that’s okay. This episode will not only help you to finish your first draft but also learn another revision technique.

Topics discussed in this episode: 

• Erin’s perfectionism while painting stairs
• Capturing a snapshot of emotions during the first draft
• Filling in details during revision
• Identifying when you’re telling emotions
• Questions to prompt showing emotions
• An example of a scene revised based on those question

About Erin: 

For 15 years, Erin has worked as a magazine and book editor, encouraging each writer’s individual voice and strengthening their writing goals. When she became a parent, she set aside her own writing aspirations to focus on her family. As the years passed, she grew increasingly anxious, depressed, and angry until she realized that she had forgotten who she was beyond being a parent. 

Despite fearing her skills had atrophied, Erin started writing again. She first created her blog, Life Beyond Parenting, and then created the Parents Who Write podcast. Erin’s current role as a podcaster and writing coach enables her to help parents pursue their writing dreams.

She earned her MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University, and she has finished the first draft of a fantasy-romance novel. She lives with her husband and their two young boys in Maryland.

Connect with Erin: 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erinptcanning 
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinptcanning  
• Facebook group: https://facebook.com/groups/parentswhowrite 
• Book a free 30-minute consultation call:  https://calendly.com/parentswhowrite/30min-meeting 

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Looking for an editor or book coach?

As an indie author, editor, and book coach, I teach authors how to untangle their jumbled ideas and tackle each writing stage one at a time.

With my 20 years’ experience and my master’s in writing, I have a 4-stage process that takes authors from struggling with overwhelm to finishing their manuscripts with confidence and direction in 6 months.

As such, I love spending time with my clients and watching them grow into strong, knowledgeable authors. Read more here, and schedule a call to see if we're a good fit: https://calendly.com/erinptcanning/30min-meeting.