writing from the pen of Shelly Stewart

Do You Want Writing Prompts to Stimulate Your Creativity? – Day 5

365 days of writing prompts

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

10 Emotion in Action writing prompts: Show, Don’t Tell

Welcome to Day 5 of 365 days of writing prompts! As writers, we want our readers to recognize with our characters. One way to achieve this is to make the emotions of our characters feel genuine to our readers.

I read this excellent article on the Dabble website. It will help you learn how to add an emotional connection between your characters and your readers.

  1. The Hidden Feeling
    Write a scene where your character hides their true emotions. How does their body language betray what they really feel?
  2. The Emotional Trigger
    Describe a moment when something small—a sound, a smell, or a gesture stirs a deep, unexpected feeling.
  3. Tears or Tremors
    Show a character holding back tears or anger. Let readers sense the emotion without naming it.
  4. The Joyful Burst
    Capture a spontaneous moment of joy, laughter, or relief. How does that energy change the mood of the scene?
  5. The Heavy Silence
    Write a scene where the absence of words carries more weight than speech. What emotion lingers in the quiet?
  6. The Kindness That Heals
    Show a moment where compassion or forgiveness shifts the emotional tone of your story.
  7. The Moment of Loss
    Portray grief or disappointment through action—what does your character do when words aren’t enough?
  8. The Nervous Habit
    Give your character a physical tell (like tapping fingers or biting lips) that reveals anxiety or anticipation. Show how it changes with emotion.
  9. The Emotional Mirror
    Let your character witness someone else’s feelings and react inwardly. What does that reflection reveal about them?
  10. The Breaking Open
    Write the moment when your character finally stops holding back. Emotion pours out freely, for better or worse.

Emotion is the bridge between your story and your reader’s heart. Today, don’t be afraid to feel deeply. Let every gesture, silence, and heartbeat draw readers closer to the truth of your character’s emotion. You’re not just writing scenes, you’re making people feel them.