Hello!

Hello!

How do I write character trauma? I need to explain one of my characters scars, but they also have mental trauma… could you help explain both physical and mental trauma?

Explaining Character's Physical and Mental Trauma

Explaining a character's physical and mental trauma requires three steps:

Step One: Doing Research

Before you can explain your character's physical and mental trauma, you first have to research the type of traumatic incident they experienced and learn what kind of physical and mental effects your character might experience as a result.

Step Two: Apply Effects to the Character

Even when you know the types of physical and mental effects the traumatic incident might have had on your character, you still need to think about your character specifically to decide if and how to apply these effects. Everyone doesn't experience trauma in the same ways, so you'll have to consider who your character is, what they're normally like, and what sorts of past experiences and coping strategies they might have (or not have) that may impact how the physical and mental effects affect them personally.

Step Three: Plot a Route Through the Narrative

Finally, you need to think about your story's plot and your character's arc, then figure out how the physical and mental trauma affects their journey through the events of the plot. How does it affect the choices they make? How does it impact their interactions with other characters? In what ways do the physical and mental effects of the trauma affect your character during each plot point? The goal here is to plot out how and when the effects will be visible to the reader and to other characters, how the character responds and how other characters respond to them, as well as determining when they might talk about the trauma/trauma effects with other characters. And also to understand how it affects the character's arc and the overall story.

I hope that helps!

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I've been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I've learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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