If description displays emotion, but they cant feel certain emotion, then what is a way one can write that without creating too boring of a piece and still display what they are going through?
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Hi Bethrbt. I'm not following your question, as it seems to conflict with your title. Your title says the PoV is emotionless, but your question states you want to still display what they are going through. Are they emotionless or going through an emotion?– Thomas Reinstate Monica MyronJan 8, 2017 at 2:56
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1POV is an instrument. You manipulate POV in order to tell certain aspects of a story. If you can't figure out how to tell the story you want to tell from a given point of view, then pick a different point of view.– user16226Jan 8, 2017 at 5:04
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1 Answer
description displays emotion
This is a sound piece of basic advice given to authors. It is correct, but by no means literal. For example "the trees blocked out the dark sky and the shadows merged to a single carpet of darkness" displays more emotion than "the forest was dark".
However, lack of description does not imply lack of emotion. The sky could still be gloomy, regardless of the emotions that the protagonist is, or is not experiencing.
Instead, forget this particular piece of advice and instead ask yourself how to relay lack of emotion. Find something that you are neutral about, like a new and improved version of your sister's shampoo. Find something that you have no opinion or emotion about whatsoever and think about how to write the story.
For example, "she looked at the gaudy January sale rack with a flat expression, she turned away without really acknowledging any of the offers" or "she watched his rant with just a slight raising of her perfectly plucked left eyebrow, she patiently waited until his fury began to wain". Plenty of description, flat emotion.
So think lack of interest/reaction, not lack of description.
