How do you personally go about writing emotionally numb/apathetic characters

[Leyelle]

As an emotional person myself, I've found it pretty challenging to try to narrate from the POV of Essence Walker, the female lead of my new novel "A Dozen Morning Glories" (making it's debut in June if all goes as planned.)

I'm not used to writing someone with no emotional reactions to anything, and that's a bit tricky. It doesn't even feel that similar to the dulled emotions Kattar ("Damsel in the Red Dress") feels on pain medication. Like no emotions at all?

So if you have characters like this, how do you go about writing them, and if you write in first person pov, how do you keep their narration interesting?

Since Essence is just chronically exhausted, this has become part of what I focus on with her narration. I've gotta try my best to abstractify it. I know how to write in a way that makes people feel most emotions, now I've gotta write exhaustion and figure out how to write in a way that makes people feel tired and feel like they feel nothing, while still maintaining their interest. Because I like making life hard for myself.

[brianhanes117]

Think of a friend you have or someone you know who is like that. Research the psychology around people who are prone to depression.

[Leyelle]

Well I know depression personally, and I did get reference from someone I know. I was asking what other people did for their stories. Is that what you did?

[skidiggy]

I have an inorganic character who has difficulty accessing her emotions. When writing her "numb" chapters, I allow myself to dissociate a little and exist in a head space where feelings aren't real. If I can become the inorganic and hold the idea for long enough, she reads more authentically as numb.

[ratscout]

My character Joseph from the 70 praetorian badges has little to no emotions--his DNA and genome was manipulated to make him that way. I basically wrote him like a very efficient machine because he was designed to be work obsessed, and has no interest outside of it other than taking care of basic human needs like eating, drinking, and sleeping.

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[UrMom]

Julian is somewhat emotionally numb. They have anhedonia due to trauma, which is the inability to feel pleasure in normally happy situations. Although they still feel emotions like frustration, anger or sadness. (Although the sadness is more of a numbing emptiness at this point.) I show this by never having them smile, never being happy about anything and never looking comfortable. Their health is also effected, they're malnourished, unkempt, kinda stinky (But that's partially due to their partner.) and generally neglectful of their own needs. They're also an insomniac, adding to the lack of enthusiasm.

I can't say I've experienced trauma, but I do have difficulty feeling and expressing certain emotions. I use that experience as a reference as well as psychology research, and hearing other people's experiences.

[kyupol]

It's easier for me since I'm emotionally numb irl (at least I've been told)

Anyway here's some of their traits...

1) short dialog. Few words. Straight to the point answers.
2) facial expressions generally neutral. No extreme facial expressions.
3) body language is soldier like. Picture a strong silent type anime character

[DasIstWunderblyat]

I try to emphasize the action being done, or physical stimuli/processes they perceive more rather than the emotional ones in the narration.

Emotionally numb people are also different as far as I know, some can put a decent enough front when needed to or so nobody will be concerned. Inside, they feel nothing. When the need is gone, they're just. . .

[Sassystar]

In my opinion, why don't you try an experiment yourself? Spend a few hours or even a day as if you were numb, blocking your emotions from influencing your thoughts. Instead of feeling emotions towards the people around you, observe them objectively. If you are an empath, think of a friend who embodies the characteristics of the person you need to write about, and try to put yourself in their shoes to understand how they feel.

This can be exhausting, as I know from my own experience writing a novel about a dark world operating under our noses. Writing about cruel things can be particularly draining. In my daily routine, I see the world as a paradise, but sometimes I need to watch documentaries to immerse myself in that dark world so my mind can grasp it, to jolt me that such world exist.

[Leyelle]

If I can become the inorganic and hold the idea for long enough, she reads more authentically as numb.

yeah, this is a struggle for me, as it's a little hard to disassociate and focus on writing at the same time.

short dialog. Few words. Straight to the point answers.

Yeah, this is what someone I know told me. Thanks for the tips.

I try to emphasize the action being done, or physical stimuli/processes they perceive more rather than the emotional ones in the narration.

this is a really good suggestion

Spend a few hours or even a day as if you were numb, blocking your emotions from influencing your thoughts. Instead of feeling emotions towards the people around you, observe them objectively.

I think I'll try this, though I admit I question how well I'll succeed. Thanks!

[ShidoDraws]

I've never written a character with no absolute emotions or reactions but if I were to write one I would probably write a second character with tons of emotions to create dynamics. That way the readers can appreciate the character.

[Leyelle]

Well yeah, usually we want contrast. But writing the character themselves is still a separate factor, especially in first person POV, where you see through their eyes.

[ShidoDraws]

Tldr, my emotionless person would be a really plain person that would have interest in hurting other people to feel things. So if I have a carefree person befriend them it can create contradictions in their beliefs. Lots of dramas therefore lots of character developments

And because real people who don't feel emotions don't usually express that they can't they tend to mimic emotions, so really it's a lose lose.

[Leyelle]

so really it's a lose lose.

wait, what is a lose lose?

[ShidoDraws]

What I'm trying to say is writing an emotionless character is basically writing a normal character. When a person lives their entire life with no emotions they grow to mimic things that they think everybody does. It can be as simple as being in a relationship for no reason because that's what society expects them to do.

Now, I'm just more speaking from a realistic point of view. For fictional characters you can do whatever you want. You don't really need to stress over it, honestly. Lmao