New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs uses multiple Emotional Hits of physically-based emotion to add power to her books. Here’s a passage from page 23 of THE WINTER LODGE. Look how she strengthens this panic attack.
Jenny felt the now-predictable pattern of the attack. There was the terrible tingling of her scalp, an army of invisible ants marching up her spine and over her head. Her chest tightened and her throat seemed to close. Despite the freezing temperatures, she broke out in a sweat. Then came the eerie pulsations of light, flickering in her peripheral vision.
We’ll analyze this according to what I call EMOTIONAL HITS. Each of the following gets one point: tingling scalp (1), ants up spine (2), ants over head (3), chest tight (4), throat seemed to close (5), sweating (6), pulsating light (7), flickering in peripheral vision (8).
I gave points to each detail that I felt added emotive power.
Susan Wiggs included eight Emotional Hits to add credibility to this character’s panic attack. Stack up your Emotional Hits with physically-based emotion and build a passage with psychological power.
