Emotion: Attraction

When you want to write the emotion attraction, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid showing not telling and immerse your readers in your story.

Attraction is a complex emotion that refers to the feeling of being drawn towards someone or something. It can be a physical or emotional attraction, and it can be romantic or platonic. Attraction can be influenced by a variety of factors, including physical appearance, personality traits, shared interests or values, and chemistry between individuals. It is often associated with positive feelings of joy, excitement, and anticipation. However, it can also be accompanied by negative emotions like jealousy, insecurity, or fear of rejection.

Different Types of Attraction

Here are some different types of attraction:

• Physical attraction: when a character is drawn to someone because of their appearance or body type.
• Romantic attraction: when a character experiences a desire for a romantic relationship with someone.
• Sexual attraction: when a character feels sexually drawn to someone.
• Intellectual attraction: when a character is attracted to someone's intelligence or wit.
• Emotional attraction: when a character is drawn to someone because of their emotional depth or sensitivity.
• Spiritual attraction: when a character feels a connection to someone on a spiritual level.

Situations Associated with Attraction

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of attraction:

• Meeting someone new who catches their eye and seems interesting or appealing
• Discovering shared interests or commonalities with another person
• Physical attraction or chemistry between two people
• Experiencing a deep connection or intimacy with someone
• Admiring someone's talents, skills, or accomplishments
• Being pursued or wooed by someone they find attractive
• Feeling a sense of excitement or thrill when around the person they are attracted to
• Feeling a sense of longing or yearning for someone who is unavailable or out of reach
• Overcoming obstacles or challenges in pursuit of a romantic interest

Physical Reactions to Attraction

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing attraction might have:

• Dilated pupils and prolonged eye contact
• Flushed cheeks and a slight smile
• Leaning in or mirroring body language
• Fidgeting or nervous movements
• Playing with hair or clothing
• Increased heart rate and breathing
• Softening of the voice or laughter
• Seeking physical closeness or touch
• Making an effort to impress or show off talents
• Daydreaming or distraction
• Difficulty focusing on anything other than the object of attraction

Thoughts Associated with Attraction

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing attraction might have:

• Their heart races when they see the person they're attracted to
• They feel butterflies in their stomach
• They have trouble focusing on anything else when the person is around
• They constantly think about the person when they're not together
• They feel nervous and self-conscious around the person
• They want to impress the person and make them laugh
• They feel a strong desire to be close to the person
• They feel happy and excited when they receive attention or affection from the person

Atmosphere of Attraction

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of attraction in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Create a setting that is visually appealing and stimulating. This can include vivid descriptions of natural surroundings, architecture, or sensory details such as scents, textures, and colors that enhance the atmosphere of the scene.
• Use contrast to highlight the characters' attraction. For example, placing them in a mundane or unremarkable setting can make their connection stand out more.
• Incorporate elements of suspense or tension to build anticipation and enhance the intensity of the attraction between characters. This can be achieved through dialogue, body language, or other nonverbal cues.
• Use the physical environment to mirror the characters' emotions. For instance, if the characters are feeling intense attraction, you might describe the weather as hot and humid, or depict the setting as dark and mysterious to create a sense of intimacy and closeness.

Verbs Associated with Attraction

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of attraction:

• Admire
• Desire
• Long for
• Yearn
• Crave
• Lust
• Covet
• Enamor
• Infatuate
• Fascinate
• Captivate
• Enchant
• Charm
• Allure
• Beguile

Emotions Before Attraction

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences attraction:

• Curiosity
• Intrigue
• Admiration
• Respect
• Fondness
• Appreciation
• Amusement
• Interest
• Empathy
• Compassion
• Trust
• Connection
• Comfort

Emotions After Attraction

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences attraction:

• Infatuation
• Desire
• Lust
• Obsession
• Adoration
• Fondness
• Affection
• Love
• Devotion

Telling Attraction Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion attraction in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• She found him attractive.
• He was the most attractive man she had ever seen.
• She couldn't resist his charm and good looks.
• He had a magnetic pull that drew her in.
• She was smitten with him from the moment they met.
• He was so attractive that she couldn't help but stare.
• She felt a strong attraction to him, despite knowing it was probably a bad idea.
• He had a certain sex appeal that made her weak in the knees.
• She was unable to resist his advances, even though she knew she should.

Practical Examples of Showing Attraction

Here are some examples of showing attraction in a sentence:

• Her eyes lingered on his broad shoulders as he walked away.
• The sound of his voice sent shivers down her spine.
• She couldn't help but smile every time she saw him.
• The scent of his cologne always made her heart race.

Exercises for Showing Attraction

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing attraction:

• Describe the physical appearance of the character that the protagonist is attracted to. What features stand out the most? How does the protagonist react to these features?
• Write a scene where the protagonist and the character they are attracted to meet for the first time. What is their initial reaction? How do they interact with each other?
• Create a list of qualities that the protagonist finds attractive in the other character. How do these qualities make the protagonist feel?
• Write a scene where the protagonist is trying to impress the other character. How do they go about it? What obstacles do they face?
• Describe a scenario where the protagonist and the other character are in close proximity but cannot act on their attraction. How do they handle the tension?
• Write a scene where the protagonist and the other character share a moment of intimacy. How do they express their attraction to each other?
• Create a list of things that the protagonist would be willing to do for the other character because of their attraction. How far would they go?

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full emotions list.