Couple Quote by Donald E. Westlake
“There are a couple of writers I admired who were very good at giving the character's emotion without stating what that emotion was. Not saying "He was feeling tense," instead saying, "His hand squeezed harder on the chair arm," as if staying outside the guy. I wanted to try doing that. I wanted to have a really emotional story in which the characters' emotions are never straight - out told to you, but you get it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing craft, 1998
Show emotions through actions rather than explicit description, letting readers infer feelings.
In simple terms: Show, don’t tell emotions.
Key Takeaway
Use subtle details to convey feeling.
Themes
writing technique
show don’t tell
character depth
Mood
thoughtful
instructive
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenplay drafting
- editing workshops
Key Concepts
Subtext
sensory detail
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance subtlety and clarity?
- What actions best reveal inner states?
A Different Perspective
Readers may miss cues without clear hints.
