Emotion: Interest

When you want to write the emotion interest, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid showing not telling and immerse your readers in your story.

Interest is a feeling of curiosity, fascination, or involvement in something or someone. It is the state of being engaged or engrossed in a particular activity or idea. When a character experiences interest, they are drawn to something or someone and want to learn more about it. This emotion can be positive, negative, or neutral, depending on the context of the situation. In creative writing, interest can be used to create a sense of intrigue, mystery, or excitement in the reader.

Different Types of Interest

Here are some different types of interest:

• Intellectual Interest: This type of interest is driven by the desire to learn and explore new ideas, concepts or subjects.
• Emotional Interest: This type of interest is driven by curiosity, fascination and wonder for something or someone.
• Creative Interest: This type of interest is driven by the desire to create something new, whether it be through writing, art, music or other forms of expression.
• Social Interest: This type of interest is driven by the desire to connect with others, build relationships and understand different perspectives.

Situations Associated with Interest

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of interest:

• Discovering a new hobby or passion
• Meeting someone they find intriguing or attractive
• Learning about a new topic or subject
• Finding a new job or career opportunity
• Reading an engaging book or watching an interesting movie
• Traveling to a new place or experiencing a new culture
• Participating in a challenging task or competition
• Being introduced to a new perspective or viewpoint
• Attending a stimulating event or performance

Physical Reactions to Interest

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing interest might have:

• Dilated pupils
• Raised eyebrows
• Leaning forward
• Nodding
• Smiling or a slight grin
• Focused gaze
• Engaged body language (e.g. not crossing arms or legs)
• Asking questions or making comments
• Initiating conversation or interaction
• Active listening (e.g. nodding, maintaining eye contact)
• Displaying enthusiasm or excitement

Thoughts Associated with Interest

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing interest might have:

• I can't wait to learn more about this.
• This is fascinating!
• I wonder how this works.
• I'm excited to see where this goes.
• I need to know more.
• I'm completely absorbed in this.
• I feel energized by this.
• I want to explore this further.
• I'm eager to uncover more information.

Atmosphere of Interest

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of interest in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Include details that demonstrate the character's fascination or curiosity with their surroundings, such as them exploring a new place or studying an object in detail.
• Use language that conveys the character's excitement or engagement with what's happening, such as describing their pulse racing or their eyes lighting up.
• Introduce elements that capture the character's attention, such as a beautiful sunset or an intriguing conversation.
• Incorporate sensory details that evoke the character's interest, such as the sound of birds chirping or the smell of freshly brewed coffee.

Verbs Associated with Interest

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of interest:

• Fascinate
• Intrigue
• Captivate
• Engage
• Absorb
• Enthrall
• Stimulate
• Excite
• Charm
• Enchant
• Delight
• Mesmerize
• Amaze
• Arouse

Emotions Before Interest

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences interest:

• Curiosity
• Confusion
• Boredom
• Apathy
• Disinterest
• Skepticism
• Indifference
• Resentment
• Disgust

Emotions After Interest

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences interest:

• Curiosity
• Excitement
• Enthusiasm
• Anticipation
• Eagerness
• Fascination
• Intrigue
• Inspiration
• Motivation

Telling Interest Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion interest in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• I was interested in what she had to say.
• He showed a lot of interest in the book.
• She couldn't help but feel interested in the mystery.
• They talked about the topic with great interest.
• He tried to feign interest, but it was obvious he wasn't really invested.
• She perked up with interest when she heard about the opportunity.
• He felt a spark of interest in the subject for the first time.
• She looked at him with interest, curious about his thoughts.
• They all listened with interest as he explained his plan.

Practical Examples of Showing Interest

Here are some examples of showing interest in a sentence:

• Her eyes widened as she leaned in closer to listen to his story.
• He couldn't help but grin as he flipped through the pages of the old book.
• She absentmindedly tapped her pencil on the desk, lost in thought about her latest project.
• He raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the unusual proposal.

Exercises for Showing Interest

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing interest:

• Start by brainstorming different topics or subjects that your character might find interesting. This could be anything from a specific hobby or passion to a field of study or career path.
• Once you have a list of potential interests, try to imagine how your character would behave or react when encountering something related to that interest. For example, if your character is interested in astronomy, how might they react to seeing a shooting star or witnessing a meteor shower?
• Consider using sensory details to help bring the character's interest to life. For example, if your character is a foodie, describe the sights, smells, and tastes of their favorite meal.
• Experiment with using dialogue to convey your character's interest. This could involve having them talk passionately about a topic they care about, or engaging in a debate or discussion with someone who has a different perspective.

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full emotions list.