A Basic Guide to Writing Sadness

Sadness is described as an emotional pain that is associated with feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, grief, helplessness, disappointment and sorrow.

In this post we will go over the basic body language, speech and facial expressions of sadness, as well as what it feels like, so you can use it to improve your writing.

Body Language and Speech

• Drooped posture: shoulders slumped, and face turned downwards.

• Crossed arms, often with the shoulders pulled together and hands that rub over the arms or sides, which is an act of self-soothing.

• Characters that are sad will have slower movements than normal.

• Lots of sighing and speaking with one-word phrases.

• If a character has been sad for a long time, or are depressed, they may become lethargic, quiet and non-committal.

• Lost or gained weight if they have been sad for a long time.

• Dark circles under eyes.

• They may be irritable.

• If they have been sad or depressed for a long time, their immune system may be low, so they can get sick more often.

• Characters that are sad will have a bad attention span.

• They will ball themselves up when lying down, like a foetal position, for comfort.

• They will drag their feet when walking.

• Characters may run away from the situation.

• They may not want to be held or comforted.

• People who are sad may want to be held or comforted.

• Someone who is sad but wants to be left alone will turn their torso away from other characters.

• Wanting to be helped or touched by other characters.

• Difficulty maintaining eye-contact, staring into the distance, or looking down.

• They may give conflicting signals. Such as: saying no but moving forward, saying stop but not opposing the other characters actions, etc.  

• Covering the eyes with one or both hands, or in the crook of the arm.

• Tears and crying.

• They may fall to their knees and weep.

• Rocking.

• Wiping nose/eyes.

• Sniffing.

• Moaning, mumbling, praying.

• A toneless, quiet voice.

• A hoarse, cracking voice.

• Using more negative words.

• Covering mouth with one or both hands.

• Hands on their chest, as if to clutch or cover their heart.

• Retreating a few steps.

• Head tilted and chin tucked.

• Allowing hair or clothing to cover face.

• Trembling.

• Some characters may become reckless when experiencing intense grief and may knowingly endanger themselves.

Facial Expressions

• Trembling or tight lips.

• Corners of the mouth turn down.

• Children will show the inside of their lower lip or puff out their cheeks.

• Biting down on lips repeatedly.

• Fake/sad smile.

• Clenched jaw.

• Eyebrows droop.

• Scrunched up nose.

• Eyes shut heavily.

• Bloodshot eyes.

• Puffy eyelids.

• Going pale.

• Rapid blinking.

• Frowning.

• Red tipped, damp nose.

What Sadness Feels Like

• Slowed breathing as if the chest is heavy.

• Feeling heavy, as if trapped.

• Feeling numb and hollow.

• Aching head or stomach, muscle pains in the neck, back and chest.

• Wanting to scream but not being able to.

• Sore throat and burning eyes from sobbing.

• Dry mouth.

• Lack of, or enhanced appetite.

• Feeling nauseated or dizzy.

• Being exhausted but struggling to sleep or sleeping more than normal.

• Wanting to/not wanting to be alone.

• Not wanting to talk or be touched; or wanting to talk and be touched constantly.

• Feeling cold.

• Being unable to concentrate.

• Not seeing the point in anything.

• Feeling confused.

• Feeling as if you are going insane.

• Disbelief and unwillingness to accept what caused the sadness.

Thank you for reading, if you have any other tips for writing sadness do leave them in the comments below!