Hi, everyone! This is a post about how to show fear in writing through the things that the character actually does.

The great American author F. Scott Fitzgerald had a sign over his writing desk that read:

Action is character.

And I think about this all the time.

In the past, I’ve made a list of ways to how to describe fear in writing (along with lists to describe other emotions), and lots of people have found them useful! But action makes the emotion even more vivid…and it’s only through action that a story can move forward.

When a character is anxious or scared, you usually want the readers to be on the edges of their seats, too, and that’s when “show don’t tell” becomes especially important. For example:

Telling: Ella felt terrified of the serial killer on the loose as she went to bed.

Showing: Before Ella went to bed, she double-checked that the doors were locked. Her heart pounded harder as she peered out her back window into the darkness.

There are a lot of things a character might be afraid of, ranging from minor—such as an unpleasant confrontation, or the revelation of an embarrassing secret—to dire. Different actions are appropriate for different fears, of course! And the action a character takes in the face of a danger or threat tells the reader a lot about that character. Does the character freeze? Flee? Prepare to fight? Attack? Pretend the whole thing isn’t even happening?

Here’s my list of “show don’t tell” examples for fear-based actions. Some of these are very small, and some are life-changing. I’m not making any distinction here between rational and irrational fears or actions. Pin it to Pinterest if you think you might want it for future reference!

bite your nails

make nervous, sarcastic jokes

clutch your chest

cover your eyes or mouth

freeze in place

scream

faint

repeatedly look over your shoulder

scan a crowd for signs of a threat

deny or minimize a threat—explain how it’s a hoax, it’s overblown, etc.

stay up all night, unable to sleep

leave the lights on all night

refuse to be alone

call the police

call a friend

ask someone else or a group for protection

be extra friendly to people who might defend you

be extra friendly to people you fear might harm or punish you

avoid the one you’re scared of: take a different path to their desk at work, decline a meeting or an invitation, etc.

keep your head down

plead with the threatening person

bargain with the threatening person

threaten the threatening person

criticize the threatening person to others

look away

back slowly away

pull the blankets over your head

make yourself smaller—duck your head, cower, wrap your arms around yourself, wrap yourself into a ball

hide behind a large object, in a closet, etc.

hide behind someone else

ask someone else for a place to hide

run away

leave town

make a permanent move to another town—or country, or planet

run home

refuse to leave the house; call in sick from work or school, etc.

put off work

refuse to start a new project

refuse to speak

snap at loved ones—or strangers

refuse to answer the door

open the door only a crack to see who it is

refuse to answer phone calls or texts

lock all the doors—and check the locks

changing the locks

changing passwords

close the blinds—and peer through the blinds

board up the windows

put up a tall fence

check closets, under the bed, etc., for intruders

hide and/or lock up valuables

install a security system

hire a bodyguard

adopt a big dog

change passwords

lock down or delete social media accounts

delete emails or email accounts

document someone’s actions

destroy documents or other evidence

falsify documents or bribe officials in order to secure an alibi or an escape

distract yourself from impending doom with TV, books, a hobby, or friends and family

save more money

move money into a new, private bank account—or withdraw and hide cash

buy pepper spray

stockpile guns and ammunition

take vitamins

get vaccines

get a medical test or screening

try experimental drugs and unproven treatments

hoard food, water, medical supplies, and toiletries

rehearse an escape plan or a crisis response

consider what could be used as a makeshift weapon, such as an iron skillet or a chair

grab a makeshift weapon

put on a bulletproof vest or chain mail

train to fight

take survival training

use religious or superstitious means of protection, e.g. a St. Christopher medal for traveling

make a will

charge someone with looking after your children when you’re gone

physically attack the threatening person

Do you love writing scenes where characters are scared—or do you find them hard to write? Do you have suggestions for how to show fear in writing? Let us know in the comments section below! Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a great week!

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