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Show Don't Tell: Anger

Greetings, lovely people! It's great to be back with another post in my 'Show Don't Tell' series! I hope you've all been doing well. Without further ado, let's dive right into today's topic: anger.

Anger is a powerful and complex emotion that can manifest in many ways. It can range from a mild irritation to a full-blown rage, and can be triggered by a variety of factors, including frustration, injustice, or hurt. While it's natural to want to avoid anger in our personal lives, it can actually be a useful tool when it comes to creative writing.

When it comes to writing, anger can add depth and complexity to characters and their interactions. By showing a character's anger, we can reveal their motivations, values, and flaws, and create a more dynamic and realistic portrayal of human emotion. Additionally, anger can create tension and conflict in a story, driving the plot forward and keeping readers engaged.

But hey, I'm not here to talk about the nitty-gritty of anger. I'm here to help you learn how to effectively show your character's anger in your writing! So let's dive right in, starting with the powerful tool of body language.

Clenched fists

Tightly crossed arms

Stiff or rigid posture

Facial expressions like frowning, scowling, or furrowing their brows

Pacing or restlessness

Grinding teeth or jaw clenching

Aggressive gestures like pointing or shaking a finger

Staring or glaring

Raised voice or shouting

Heavy breathing or sighing

Pounding a fist on a surface

Tightened or bulging neck muscles

Sweating or flushed skin

Looking away or avoiding eye contact

Physical violence, such as hitting or throwing objects

Tensing or flexing muscles

Clenching or unclenching fists repeatedly

Baring teeth or showing a snarl

Raising eyebrows or narrowing eyes

Rolling eyes or making sarcastic facial expressions

Biting or chewing on their lips

Tapping their foot or fingers impatiently

Leaning in aggressively or invading personal space

Hunching over or making themselves appear smaller

Using a monotone or clipped tone of voice

Holding their breath or exhaling loudly

Clapping hands sarcastically or making dismissive hand gestures

Making fists and shaking them at someone

Puffing up their chest or standing tall to appear more imposing

Stomping their feet or making loud footsteps.

Scrunching their nose or flaring nostrils

Puckering or twisting their mouth

Tugging or pulling at their hair or clothing

Crossing or uncrossing their legs or ankles abruptly

Bending or clenching their toes or curling their toes tightly

Bouncing or tapping their knee rapidly

Grinding or rubbing their hands together

Picking at their nails or skin

Covering their face or eyes with their hands

Throwing their head back in frustration or exasperation.

Raising or lowering their voice

Slamming things down too hard that they are carrying.

Pursing their lips and nodding.

Running their tongue on the inside of their cheek.

Stalking instead of walking

Scratching their head or neck vigorously

Pulling or tugging at their ears

Biting their tongue or inside of their cheek

Flinching or tensing up when someone approaches them

Nodding their head sharply or repeatedly

Squeezing or gripping an object tightly, such as a pen or a phone

Slamming doors or drawers

Puffing out their cheeks or blowing air out forcefully

Fidgeting or shifting their weight from foot to foot

Raising one or both eyebrows in surprise or anger.

Shrugging off someone's touch or pushing them away

Curling their lips or sneering

Tilting their head back and closing their eyes

Scrunching up their face in disgust or disapproval

Stomping their foot or kicking an object

Folding their arms tightly across their chest

Clutching their stomach or chest

Rubbing their hands together quickly

Stiffening their body or freezing in place

Turning their back on someone or walking away abruptly.

Making a fist and pressing it into their other hand

Running a hand through their hair in frustration

Holding their hand to their forehead or temple

Biting their lower lip or the inside of their cheek

Tensing their jaw and grinding their teeth

Clenching their fists behind their back or in their pockets

Tugging at their collar or tie

Staring daggers or giving someone a withering look

Curling their toes or flexing their feet

Drumming their fingers or tapping their nails on a surface.

Covering their mouth with their hand and closing their eyes.

Scratching or rubbing the back of their neck

Rubbing their eyes or face vigorously

Putting their hands on their hips and leaning forward

Standing up abruptly or pacing back and forth

Pushing a chair or other object out of the way

Clapping their hands sharply or slamming them on a surface

Breathing heavily or audibly

Hunching their shoulders or shrugging in frustration

There are so many ways to bring your character's anger to life in your writing, and your readers will feel it in their bones! Body language is just one tool in your arsenal, but there are plenty of others to explore. Next up, let's talk about sensory details. While there may be some overlap with body language, there are also unique ways to use sensory details to convey anger.

Sensory details are all about bringing your reader into your character's experience by describing what they feel, see, hear, taste, and smell. But it's not just about surface-level sensations; it's about capturing what your character feels on the inside too. Think about the way anger might make your character's heart race or their vision narrow, or the way it might leave a sour taste in their mouth or make them hyper-aware of certain smells.

Clenched teeth or jaw

Rapid heartbeat or pounding in the chest

Flushed or reddened face

Sweating or clammy skin

Heavy breathing or panting

Muscles tensing or knotting up

Twitching or trembling limbs

Ringing in the ears or muffled sounds

Vision tunneling or blurring

Sensitivity to light or sound

Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes

Pounding or throbbing headache

Dry mouth or tightness in the throat

Stomach churning or nausea

Tingling or itching sensation on the skin

Increased sensitivity to smells or tastes

Loss of appetite or overeating

Difficulty concentrating or focusing

Racing thoughts or an inability to think straight

Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.

Tense or stiff neck and shoulders

Clammy or shaking hands

Uncontrollable shaking or shivering

Rapid speech or stuttering

Breathy or strained voice

High-pitched or shrill tone

Swelling or throbbing veins

Rapid blinking or eye twitching

Heavy or labored sighs

Chills or goosebumps

Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Flushed or blotchy skin

Pacing or restless movements

Increased energy or restlessness

Headache or pressure in the temples

Chest tightness or discomfort

Dry or sweaty palms

Fidgeting or tapping feet or fingers

Frowning or scowling

Clenching or grinding teeth.

Action is the next layer in showing your character's anger. It's all about capturing the choices they make and the way they interact with their surroundings and other characters while feeling that intense emotion. Maybe they lash out and say things they regret later, or they bottle up their anger and internalize it until it explodes. Maybe they turn to self-destructive behaviors like substance abuse or reckless driving, or they channel their anger into a creative outlet like writing or painting. Whatever actions your character takes, they can reveal a lot about their personality, values, and motivations, and help your readers connect with them on a deeper level.

Yelling or screaming

Throwing objects or slamming doors

Punching or hitting walls

Physically attacking someone

Storming out of a room or location

Refusing to engage in conversation

Passive-aggressive behavior

Giving the silent treatment

Ignoring or avoiding the source of their anger

Interrupting others or talking over them

Criticizing or belittling others

Blaming others for their problems

Making sarcastic or cutting remarks

Engaging in risky behavior or taking unnecessary risks

Excessive drinking or drug use

Engaging in self-harm or other destructive behaviors

Seeking revenge or planning retaliation

Seeking control or power over others

Using manipulation or coercion to get what they want

Betraying or sabotaging others

Withholding affection or love

Sarcasm

Eye-rolling

Mocking or imitating others

Giving ultimatums

Exaggerating or lying about their feelings or experiences

Making threats

Refusing to compromise

Refusing to listen or hear other perspectives.

Getting physically tense or rigid

Clenching their fists or teeth

Biting their nails or lips

Fidgeting or tapping their foot

Pacing back and forth

Making abrupt or sudden movements

Staring or glaring at someone

Crossing their arms or legs defensively

Scratching or rubbing their skin

Crying or showing signs of distress

Withdrawal or isolation from others

Demanding attention or validation from others

Disrupting the peace or harmony in a space or environment

Refusing to follow rules or guidelines

Engaging in arguments or fights with others

Becoming overly competitive or aggressive in their pursuits

Ignoring advice or guidance from others

Showing a lack of empathy or compassion towards others

Being overly critical or nitpicky

Refusing to apologize or take responsibility for their actions.

Exhibiting physical symptoms like sweating or shaking

Making demands or issuing commands to others

Engaging in reckless or dangerous behavior

Becoming overly defensive or argumentative

Engaging in self-destructive behavior or self-sabotage

Refusing to acknowledge or address the source of their anger

Blaming themselves for problems that are not their fault

Seeking out conflict or confrontation with others

Using passive-aggressive behavior to communicate their anger

Engaging in obsessive or compulsive behaviors

Struggling to focus or concentrate due to their anger

Engaging in self-soothing behaviors like rocking or pacing

Using humor to mask or downplay their anger

Becoming distant or disengaged from others.

Now, let's talk about setting. It's not just where your characters are, but how they react to it. This means the environment can be used to show off their anger or even help readers understand why they are feeling angry.

Secluding themselves in a quiet, isolated part of the environment

Moving quickly and aggressively through the environment

Becoming agitated or restless in a peaceful or serene environment

Ignoring or avoiding other characters in the environment

Intentionally damaging the environment or objects within it

Distancing themselves from others or backing away from objects in the environment

Taking actions that disrupt the peace or harmony of the environment, such as slamming doors or turning over tables

Focusing on negative aspects of the environment, such as dirt or clutter, and feeling anger towards those elements

Becoming fixated on a particular aspect of the environment and feeling anger towards anyone who interferes with it.

Avoiding eye contact with others in the environment

Making sarcastic or biting comments about the environment

Displaying impatience or frustration with slow-moving objects or people in the environment

Purposefully choosing a more hostile or uncomfortable location to match their angry emotional state

Remember how a bright, sunny day with chirping birds and fresh flowers can instantly put you in a happy mood? Well, the same goes for the location in your story. Even without a character present, scenery can influence the way readers perceive the mood. So, when it comes to anger, the location can be used to set the tone just as much as the character's actions and emotions.

Weather: Dark clouds, lightning, thunder, and heavy rain can create an ominous and angry atmosphere.

Time of Day: Nighttime or sunset can create a moody and angry atmosphere.

Location: A rundown or dangerous part of town can create a sense of anger or unease.

Objects: Broken or destroyed objects can indicate a character's anger and frustration.

Colors: Dark or vibrant colors like red or black can be used to create a sense of anger.

Noises: Loud, jarring noises like alarms or sirens can create a sense of anger and urgency.

Crowds: A crowded or noisy environment can be used to create feelings of anger or irritation.

Architecture: Cold or sterile environments like hospitals or government buildings can create a sense of anger and frustration.

Nature: A barren or lifeless landscape can create a sense of anger or despair.

Animals: Aggressive or hostile animals can be used to create a sense of danger and anger.

Now, let's talk about dialogue. There's nothing quite like a character yelling and cussing up a storm to show their anger, right? It's one of the most powerful ways to convey intense emotions through words. So, buckle up and get ready to explore the ways in which dialogue can be used to show anger in your writing!

Cursing and using expletives

Speaking loudly and aggressively

Interrupting others and speaking over them

Using sarcastic or mocking tones

Making threats or using violent language

Using short, sharp sentences or phrases

Speaking through gritted teeth or a clenched jaw

Insulting or belittling others

Using repetitive or redundant language

Refusing to engage in conversation or responding with silence.

Using rhetorical questions that are meant to convey frustration

Interrupting themselves mid-sentence with a burst of anger

Repeating a particular phrase or word to emphasize their anger

Using a dismissive tone to indicate irritation or impatience

Speaking with a tone that is icy or cold

Using a monotone voice to convey anger and frustration

Resorting to name-calling or insults

Being defensive or argumentative in their responses

Speaking rapidly and stumbling over their words in their anger

Using a confrontational or challenging tone to express anger.

And what comes after all of that? Well, my dear friend, when you've exhausted their words, body language, senses, and actions, what's left? That's when you dive into their mind and explore their point of view. You can write about their thoughts and inner dialogue to really capture the depth of their anger.

Negative thoughts about others or the situation

Self-criticism and frustration

Dwelling on past events that caused the anger

Increased cynicism and pessimism

A desire for revenge or justice

Difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks

Racing or intrusive thoughts

A feeling of being overwhelmed or out of control

A sense of injustice or unfair treatment

Blaming others or external circumstances for their anger

Now we come to the last item on our list - metaphors and analogies. They are frequently used in writing to create colorful and vivid descriptions, and can also effectively convey a character's anger. However, it's important to be careful with their use, as readers can become annoyed if they are overused.

"Her anger burned like a wildfire, consuming everything in its path."

"He felt like a coiled snake, ready to strike at any moment."

"Her anger was a thunderstorm, building and brewing until it finally erupted."

"His anger was a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any second."

"She felt like a volcano, with her anger bubbling just below the surface."

"His anger was a raging river, with powerful currents and dangerous undertows."

"She felt like a caged animal, trapped and helpless in her anger."

"His anger was a sharp sword, cutting through everything in its way."

"She felt like a stormy sea, with her anger churning like the waves."

"His anger was a blazing inferno, burning everything in its wake."

"His anger boiled like lava in a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment."

"Her words sliced through me like a knife, leaving me raw and bleeding with anger."

"He was a ticking time bomb, just waiting to explode with fury."

"Her temper was a wildfire, spreading quickly and uncontrollably."

"His rage was a storm, brewing and building until it unleashed with a violent outburst."

"She was a snake, coiled and ready to strike with venomous anger."

"His fury was a thunderous roar, shaking the very foundations of the earth."

"Her temper was a beast, wild and untamed, impossible to control."

"His anger was a whirlpool, pulling me down into its dark depths."

"She was a volcano, her anger a fiery eruption that left nothing but destruction in its wake."

Well, that's all for today's post. It's always bittersweet to say goodbye, but don't worry, I'll be back soon with more juicy writing tips! Before I go, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this post. Did you find it helpful? Did you learn something new? And more importantly, what other emotions do you want me to tackle next? Let me know in the comments below!

You can find plenty of these posts on my Tumblr, so be sure to check them out! or you can find a more organized version here!

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