How to give chapters certain feels!!! - Writers Forum

badash · 05-20-2004, 04:09 PM

If I want one of my chapters for instance to be a sad chapter. To make the reader know that somethings not right, and make him/her nervous for terrible events that might occur. How du I get it in between the lines???

Leapord · 05-20-2004, 05:33 PM

Hm, that's a good question. I would start by changing the tone of description, so it feels more mellow and dark. Try to conjure specific images that would make people sad. If you're using a first person or a third person limited perspective you could also change the one of the character's thoughts so that they seem a little down. Hope that helps.

Cora Windover · 05-30-2004, 10:52 AM

if your main character feels that something isn't right, that will transfer into the reader... or even if the character ignores it, if you make mention of a spooky atmosphere, it will get the point across...

Tone is a very hard thing to teach. There's this one Harry Potter fanfiction that has very good tone - you can practically tell the color of each scene. If you want to read it, it's short - only one chapter long

http://www.eliteskills.com/z.php?i=12656

Basically, your best bet is finding the right word. *points to signature, and the immortal words of Mark Twain* start increasing your vocabulary, learn what connotations go with different words. For example, take sobbing and crying.

"What are you doing!" Maria cried, the cup dropping from her hands.

as opposed to:

"What are you doing!" Maria sobbed, the cup dropping from her hands.

In the first sentence, she could have been anywhere from upset to angry to surprised.... in the second, she was undoubtedly heartbroken. It's these small nuances that create a certain atmosphere in a scene.

I hope that little bit helped o_O

Nazareth · 05-30-2004, 02:07 PM

There's also techiques like using overcast skies, dreary sad looking flowers/trees, week scrawny looking dogs, dispairing/bleak structures to set the tone for sadness or emptiness- work these things into your writing to heighten the depressing or sad, or hopeless feelings of the dialogue.

For happy scenes use brightly lit rooms with soft lights, sunny warm days- flowers/trees in full bloom, vivid colors in the clothing etc. All help to convey what you are trying to tell in the dialogue.

(For instance, "He stole a glance at her delicate form, and stumbled in the direction of the railing, flailing for something to steady himself on. She reminded him of an angel set amoungst the garden of eden, illuminating everything around her as she glided with the confidence of an aristocrat through the sinuey trees that lined 5'th street. The sun highlighted the supple accents of her face, accentuating her high-set cheekbones, delicate chin, and her sexy, luxurious lips. Her warm pastel tone clothes clung to a frame that made every guy in school trip over his own feet as they clammoured to gain her attention. Nearby two doves coo'd in unison -- as if to set the mood."

Ok Ok, maybe the doves was a bit much, but you get the idea

Anger scenes could use black descriptions of objects, raging red's (fiery red/ hot crimson etc.) objects will take on an air of anger ie: snarling dogs, people nearby yelling/arguing over inane things, unruly/wild hair, torn clothing, etc.

Also, things that are implied but not stated hold alot of wieght in describing feelings -

instead of saying "He was angry, he thought if she didn't back off now, he would lose what little respect he had left for her." instead of saying he was angry, describe/show his anger - say something like

"He flicked his eyes at her, clenched his fists until his nails dug small round crescents into his palms, and a snarl crept across his lip. This was the third lie she had told him today. He longed for the honest relationship he had with his previous girlfriend, and had all he could do to keep from telling this lying witch off to her face."

Keep the feeling going by describing him stomping out of the room, looking at everything around him with disdain, and seeing ugliness in everything where beauty should be seen.

Happy scenes will take on slower paces where-as anger/action scenes will benifit from shorter descriptions, shorter impact lines.

Use a synonym site to find words that describe what you are trying to say - sometimes all it takes is a few well placed synonyms to convey the perfect meaning.

Ralizah · 06-01-2004, 12:15 AM

Besides the imagery, I'm going to go with an element that can have a profound effect on the mood; the presentation of the dialouge.

It needn't be overly sad or distraught (AKA: I HATE EVERYONE!!! I WANT TO DIE!!! YOU CAN ALL BURN IN HELL!!!) but the way it's presented can impact the mood of the reader.

Example:

"I can't believe he's dead!" Cathy sobbed into her arms, tears flooding from her eyes. "I just found out this morning! Goddamn it!"

Besides being a rather poor sentence in general, it's overly distraught, and the mood can be caught better in a sentence such as this:

Cathy's eyes wildly darted around the room, her attention directed everywhere except at the woman standing directly in front of her. "Heh, you know..." her voice trailed off and she sunk her face into the crevice formed by her arms. Slowly, her eyelids submitted to rest. "That idiot..." Cathy's voice began to adopt a bitter tone. "That stupid... idiot... he's dead, you know? Found out this morning." Her voice lost stability, and she cast a muffled hiss into her arms: "He's dead! That goddamn idiot!"

Not only are mannerisms used, the tone becomes mellow and slightly minimalistic, displaying the despair more clearly.

It works the same way for any other mood.

Cora Windover · 06-01-2004, 09:53 AM

Ralizah - not only do I agree with your statement, I agree with your signature! If people were more open to the idea of homosexuality, there would be more gay people, and there would be less babies born... voila.

Allusearna · 06-02-2004, 02:46 AM

I did an excercise in english class once. We all had to write down a paragraph describing the view outside the window, bus from different slants. We had a positive view, negative view, (happy, sad tc.
there was bothe city buildings and bush/green hills.

Some paragraphs talked about themorbid grey concrete,, how it's colour was reflected in the sky, and how this was taking over the little bit of freedom (bush and stuff) while others talked about how nature and city say side by side, each with a purpose, but each equal.
It was interesting.

You might want to try this, just as an excercise, and look at the words you are using. So much tone and mood can be depicted through how you describe things.

Nazareth · 06-02-2004, 10:03 PM

Ralizah- that was a nice example- It gave that sentiment alot of feeling and depth. I hope you'll post more examples to show different kinds of emotion as well, as I'm sure people will benifit from such examples.

badash · 06-03-2004, 10:38 AM

I guess it's pretty fundamental writing, how to give chapters certain feels. You are all giving me ideas so thanks a bunch.