felt

The verb 'felt' creates emotional distance between the reader and the character. When you write 'She felt angry,' you step back from the character's experience instead of immersing the reader in it. This weakens the emotional impact of your narrative. Deep POV invites readers to see through the character's eyes and experience their emotions firsthand. Instead of naming the emotion, show it through physical sensations, actions, and details that demonstrate what the character is experiencing. Before: She felt anxious as she waited for the test results. After: Her fingers drummed against the table, and she bit her lip, glancing at the clock every few seconds. Before: He felt sad when he saw the empty chair at the table. After: The empty chair loomed larger than life, a reminder of laughter that would never return. Before: They felt excited about the upcoming trip. After: They packed their bags with hurried hands, laughter spilling out as they debated over which snacks to bring. While 'felt' has its place in dialogue or reflective moments where a character might explicitly name their emotion, it should be used sparingly. For instance, a character might say, 'I felt a wave of relief wash over me,' if they have just experienced a moment of tension. In these instances, the word serves to articulate a complex feeling in a way that resonates with the character's voice. Ask yourself: If removing 'felt' shifts the meaning or emotional clarity of the sentence, then it may be justified.