When I find myself writing an emotional scene, I think about a time when I went through the emotion my character is going through. I try not to put myself through the wringer again but I think back to when I felt the particular emotion I’m trying to put into words. What made me feel that way? What did I think and do? Did I try to hide my emotions or did I let all pour out? What was my facial expression like? How did I react physically?

Once I’ve done that, I decide how my character would react. What would he or she do when faced with the situation I’m writing about? Will their emotional state make them do something they’ll later regret? How would they react physically? Would it be messy?

I use the setting. Is it a modern or historical setting? Where is the character? What are they seeing or smelling? Are they alone or with other characters? Does this influence whether they let their feelings show or try and hide them? I describe the area where the action is taking place, the objects in that setting, and even the other characters, who can help to increase the emotion in a scene.

Readers are seeing everything through the eyes of the main character and the main character’s emotional state will influence what he or she sees, thinks about, and reacts to. I try and avoid using emotional clichés as these are now weak though over use and they make me cringe! I try and use words which are concise and to the point instead as these will create a more vivid reading experience and readers will be more eager to turn the pages.

Excerpt:

“I suppose you think it’s so funny.”

“Funny?”

“Turning up here with him!” Mags pointed at Robert.

Justin’s face registered nothing but bewilderment.

“Robert Armstrong,” she shouted.

Justin’s eyebrows shot up. “Mags, stop shouting.”

“Oh shut up!” she retorted.

“Mags, you shut up,” Justin told her quietly. “Right, someone needs to go home with Mum…”

“I will,” Mags said. “Jane’s got much more important things on her mind.”

“Mags, shut it!” Justin snapped. “Sorry,” he apologised to Robert, who got up.

“I should go.”

Jane went with him to the hospital entrance. Compared to the temperature inside the hospital, it was chilly outside. She’d done a lot more walking than she’d planned tonight and was beginning to hobble in the three-inch heels. Knowing her luck, she would end up with a blister.

“I’m sorry about Mags.”

“She’s upset. It’s understandable.”

“Thanks for staying.”

“No problem. Give your dad my best.”

“I will.”

He kissed her cheek. “Go back inside, Jane, it’s freezing.”

“I’ll ring you.”

He nodded and walked across the road to a taxi.

As soon as the taxi pulled away, Jane rushed back inside to her family.

“You mean that really is him?” Justin was stuttering as she returned to the Relatives Room. “I kind of wondered, but—”

“Well,” Mags sneered. “Robert Armstrong. No one else would do, eh?”

“Not now!” Jane snapped. “Who’s going home with Mum?”

“I am.” Mags was adamant. “So you can toddle off after darling Robert.”

“Mags,” Justin warned, then turned to Jane. “We’re not allowed to see Dad tonight.”

“Okay, I’ll come back in the morning.”

“You do that,” Mags said.

“Okay, I’ll go.”

Jane squeezed Justin’s arm on her way out, but was wise enough not to go anywhere near Mags.

Blurb:

Jane Hollinger is the wrong side of thirty, divorced and struggling to pay the mortgage her cheating ex left her with. As a qualified genealogist, teaching family history evening classes is a way for her to make ends meet. But she begins to wonder if it’s such a good idea when a late enroller for the class is a little… odd. “Badly-blond Bloke” both scares and intrigues Jane, and when she discovers he is her all-time favourite actor and huge crush, Robert Armstrong, she’s stunned. Even more stunning to Jane is the fact that Robert is interested in her romantically. He’s everything she ever dreamed of, and more, but can she overcome her fear of living in the public eye to be with the man she loves?

http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Peel_Lorna/only-you.htm

http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/lorna-peel

About me:

Lorna Peel is an author of contemporary and historical romantic fiction. She has had work published in three Irish magazines – historical articles on The Stone of Scone in ‘Ireland’s Own’, on The Irish Potato Famine in the ‘Leitrim Guardian’, and Lucy’s Lesson, a contemporary short story in ‘Woman’s Way’. Lorna was born in England and lived in North Wales until her family moved to Ireland to become farmers, which is a book in itself! She lives in rural Ireland, where she write, researches her family history, and grows fruit and vegetables. She also keeps chickens (and a Guinea Hen who now thinks she’s a chicken!).

http://lornapeel.com

http://twitter.com/PeelLorna

http://www.facebook.com/LornaPeelAuthor

http://pinterest.com/lornapeel

http://www.goodreads.com/LornaPeel

Thank you for featuring me on your blog, Grace!