Feedback Wanted
Some of the best “she’s not coping” writing is almost invisible. Not tears on the page, but the extra list, the overpacked bag, the reply sent three times, the delay before opening the door.
I keep noticing how often mental load shows itself through behaviour that looks sensible from the outside. Efficient, even. Then a small omission gives it away.
Do you show that kind of strain through action, or through the little gaps in it?
I keep noticing how often mental load shows itself through behaviour that looks sensible from the outside. Efficient, even. Then a small omission gives it away.
Do you show that kind of strain through action, or through the little gaps in it?
The danger is making every small habit mean “distress”. Sometimes a packed bag is just a packed bag, and sometimes a character is a bit tidy because they’re a bit tidy.
What works better, usually, is mismatch. The person who is annoyingly organised in one area and completely useless in another. Or the tiny lapse that doesn’t belong to their usual pattern. That’s where the crack shows.
What works better, usually, is mismatch. The person who is annoyingly organised in one area and completely useless in another. Or the tiny lapse that doesn’t belong to their usual pattern. That’s where the crack shows.