The Emotions


A) Anger:

Words: exasperation, annoyance, irritation, aggravation, infuriation

That midget is not going to survive a second longer in Slytherin House if he doesn't learn how to keep that humungous trap he calls a mouth shut. His constant and inane chatter is enough to drive a saint to exasperation. And I can easily list ten people in this very common room who would be take great pleasure in shutting his jaw for him, permanently. Myself included. You know, I think I'm being incredibly reasonable here. Three weeks already I have had to deal with his constant annoying presence. All the questions. Just because he's mister Spoilt Rich Kid doesn't mean everyone else has had his perfect, privileged existence. If the brat is truly as Pureblood as he claims, then he should know by now that family is the one place Slytherin children who wish to survive do not go. And I'm incredibly irritated by the number of times he's asked me about my father in the last few minutes.

Scrap that. I want to throttle the bloody kid. Take that scrawny neck in my hands and squeeze so tightly the bruises can be seen a week later. And you know, I'm usually not this easily aggravated. But a mention of my father...constant badgering about him...I have never had a pleasant thought about the man, nor will I ever. It's difficult to think of him positively when everytime his name is spoken it brings to mind that time he broke my arm in three places.

Yeah, kid, you try convincing the Muggle nurse that the reason your arm is in pieces is because you were in a car accident, never mind that the car outside is immaculate. Because if you even think of mentioning his name in conjuction with the 'accident', he'll lock you in the basement for a week. Yeah, you like talking, don't you? Well talk yourself out of that, one. And while you're at it, why don't you figure out a cover story for a huge burn on your shoulder, because your father applied a hot iron to it?

You know what, boy? You've successfully infuriated Alex Dawson. And I think, wait, I know I'm going to enjoy making your life as utter hell as you're currently making mine.


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B) Fear:

Ultimately, fear is one of the emotions that has a huge varitey of physical responses. From the beating heart, to the sweaty palms, to the rapid breathing.

Exercise Option A:
Physical Reactions: thudding heart, paralysis, screaming, cold sweat, difficulty breathing

Alex's heart raced as he backed away slowly from the monster in disguise that approached, alcohol on it's breath. He couldn't...he hadn't done anything this time, he was innocent, he'd been a good boy today,

[in progress]

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C) Irritation:

Exercise: Write out a list of five things that irritate your chracter to no end. Expand on two of them explaining why it irritates them including when the irritation first started.

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D) Revenge:

Exercise: Describe your character's most delightful revenge fantasy. Why do they want revenge? Who is the person? What horribly wicked things would you like to do? Use strong details and be specific. Now write a scene where your character acts out this scene. How do they feel afterward? How have they changed?

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E) Tenderness:


Exercise: One of the ways Dubus manages to convey tenderness while avoiding sentimentality is to use intrusion from the outside world: Singing birds are mentioned twice. Write a scene where you character is touching someone else's cheek. But twice have an intrusion from the outside world, such as the sound of aruging, or laughter, or anything else you can imagine. This is especially effective if you are trying this exercise with a character who shys away from tenderness at all costs.