on Fiction University:
The wrong words can flatten the right feelings—learn how to spot them and breathe emotion back into your scenes.
Ever read a scene that should hit you right in the feels, but somehow doesn’t? The words are there, the setup is solid, but emotionally, it falls flat.
That disconnect often comes down to the wrong word in the right place. A frown where there should be fear. A smile that doesn’t carry the weight of what’s unspoken.
The smallest word choices can make or break a reader’s emotional connection—and when that connection breaks, so does their investment in the story.
The right word can mean the difference between connecting emotionally with a reader and having them forget a character’s name. The more they connect, the more likely it is that they’ll love the story. The more they love the story, the more likely they are to tell all their friends about it and buy the next one.
No pressure, but using the wrong words could have a huge impact on a writer’s career.
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 