#Different moods of a story how to#
#Different moods of a story serial#

A well-built log cabin that’s nestled deep in the woods.It’s seemingly abandoned except for the one faint light the emanating from an upstairs window. A dilapidated mansion overtaken with weeds and ivy.As darkness falls around her, she reaches: By focusing on the theme, you can impact the right mood to your reader. For example, when you choose a story that focuses on the theme true love conquers all, your reader may feel angry, optimistic, melancholy, nostalgic, and ultimately gratified. Oftentimes, the theme of your novel can set a mood for the reader. It’s the meaning of your story, and the interpretation you’re hoping to communicate. Not sure what theme means? The theme of a novel is its big idea. Here are four simple ways to establish mood in your novel. Without a defined emotional goal, your story will feel loose, unfocused, and unintentional. Finding the right emotion(s) will also strengthen your story, and make it more engaging. Why do you need to have an emotional goal?Įmotions tie the reader to your story. If not, edit until you get the right emotion. Is the same as the emotion you were hoping to create? After a peer critique, inquire about the reader’s emotion. And during the self-editing process, check your work against that specific emotion. Whatever the targeted sentiment, be intentional. Is the answer: Delighted? Suspenseful? Hopeful? Helpless? Desperate? Start by answering this question: What do I want the reader to feel when reading my novel?

#Different moods of a story how to#

Getting back to mood, let’s talk about how to set the right mood for your reader. Your tone can change, but your voice is uniquely and consistently yours, no matter the tone. I like to compare it to that old saying “tone of voice”. However, tone can change from book to book, character to character, scene to scene.

It’s tethered to you as an author and doesn’t change. You’ll carry your voice with you to every book your write. Your writer’s voice is your own- it’s the unique style in which you tell your stories. Now is probably a good time to bring up voice. Generally, if the narrator can be trusted, the mood and the tone will be similar. As the reader, the tone may make you feel uncomfortable, unsettled, or weirded out- that’s the mood!Īnd that’s also an extreme example. He or she may use a matter-of-fact, or even humorous tone when depicting events.

#Different moods of a story serial#

Sometimes, it can be connected to the mood, and in other times, it can be in stark contrast to the mood.įor example, let’s say you have an unreliable narrator who happens to be a serial killer. The tone of a story is how the narrator feels about what’s happening in the story. While mood deals with the reader, tone deals with the writer and/or the narrator. It will give them a personal and visceral connection to the story. The right mood will help the reader immerse completely into your world of characters. The reader needs to feel emotionally attached to the story, the characters, the plot, and the possibilities.Īnd because mood is how the reader feels when reading and processing your story, you’ve got to set the stage for the right mood. We’ll discuss tone more in the next section.Īnother reason why mood is important? It enhances the reader’s experience.Īs a writer, your goal for the reader should always be emotional reaction. You can do that by first striking the right tone, which will then create the right mood. If you’re telling a sad story, you want the reader to sympathize with the protagonist. For example, if you’re relaying a funny story to your best friend- you want your friend to feel happy and even laugh while hearing it. When you tell a story, you want people to feel a certain way when hearing or reading it. You must create a mood that enhances the story you’re telling, whether that story is sad, terrifying, romantic, or joyful.Ĭonveying mood (or making the reader feel the way you want him to feel) is a huge part of storytelling. Why is Mood Important?įor your reader’s sake, it’s key to strike the right mood in your novel. Remember that mood doesn’t have to be constant, but it does need to be ever-present. Your story’s mood can jump from jubilant to sorrowful and then back again. It’s likely to shift, as the reader connects with the narrator, develops empathy for the protagonist, and experiences the ups and downs of your exquisite storytelling. Through the course of your novel, the mood will change. Similar circumstances, but the two stories produce a profoundly different emotion. For example, in a story where people are stranded on a desolate island: the mood could be Gilligan’s Island, or it could be Lost. You see, mood can influence context, how you experience the story, and what you take from it. Whether your reader comes away from the novel with a chuckle, or a heaviness of heart- it’s likely to be the mood that’s responsible. Mood is the feeling your novel inspires in the reader. Mood goes beyond the atmosphere of your novel.