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Hoots : How can you show a character trembling without telling the reader I'm trying to write this scene where the character is trembling but it's unrealistically. "My heart was pounding beneath my chest. I trembled and felt terrible - freshhoot.com

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How can you show a character trembling without telling the reader
I'm trying to write this scene where the character is trembling but it's unrealistically.

"My heart was pounding beneath my chest. I trembled and felt terrible pain as if someone had hit me in the stomach."


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If you want to avoid outright describing the character as trembling, you could focus on how this feels from the character's perspective and how it affects nearby objects.

In all likelihood, the character's hands are shaking. Maybe their teeth chatter, or their knees keep knocking together. Anything jingly they happen to hold or wear (such as keys or bracelets) will make a noise. Any openly carried liquid is likely to slosh and spill over.

They'd definitely have trouble with anything requiring fine motor skills (such as picking up an object or unlocking a door). When walking close to objects, they're more likely to bump into things.

Alternatively (or in addition to that), the character could be trembling with such force that it affects their surroundings. If the floor is a bit unstable, this could cause nearby furniture to wobble.

You might also include other details depending on what causes the character to tremble. Excitement, fear, shock, or physical illness?


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