I need help writing a character that doesn't like other people and rarely shows emotion due to high amounts of emotional trauma? He would let a person die if they were no longer of any use to him.
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2Hi, Plasman. Could you be more specific about what the problem is you're running into? As it stands, your question isn't actually a question at all but a declaration of intent to write. Please read the contents of the help center for more information on how to ask a good question: writing.stackexchange.com/help/asking– Anna A. FitzgeraldJul 2, 2020 at 21:17
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2In particular, are you writing it from this character's point of view, or from someone else's?– MaryJul 3, 2020 at 1:43
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2Related. Also why don't you check out the tour and the help centre to make sure your questions are easily understandable.– ArtickokeAndAnchovyPizzaMonicaJul 3, 2020 at 8:09
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Does this answer your question? How to write an actually psychopath character– rolfedhJul 3, 2020 at 13:12
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1 Answer
Emotionless characters still have emotions. They just don't show it.
If your emotionless character is your POV character, you can still describe all the thoughts and feelings of the character... but emphasize that they don't show it. The Hunger Games does a good job of doing this by either describing how Katniss sees her expressionless face on the screens, others comment how she's so hard to read, or she shows a general distrust of people who exhibit emotions (she thinks they're insincere).
If your emotionless character is not your POV character, follow the example of how CS Lewis describes the Hrossa in Out of the Silent Planet. Dr. Random repeatedly misreads the Huossa or simply has no idea what they are thinking. Even when the Hrossa speak, Ransom can't figure out what they mean because they're so expressionless.
