Show the character’s "soft underbelly." A hardened detective is more sympathetic when we see them tenderly caring for a dying houseplant.
Focus on sensory details that change based on mood. To a person in love, the city sounds like a symphony; to a person with a migraine, it sounds like a construction site. 5. Pacing and Sentence Structure The rhythm of your prose dictates the reader's pulse. The Emotional Craft of Fiction
Use long, flowing, multi-clausal sentences that meander, mirroring a mind that is lost or heavy. 6. The "So What?" Factor (Stakes) Show the character’s "soft underbelly