Expressing Emotions, Part Six: Indifference
Indifference is comparatively easy in writing. Indifference is just someone not caring. And I'm not talking about someone yelling that they don't care when it's obvious that they do (hence the yelling). I'm talking about someone genuinely not caring about something or someone.
One of the hardest parts about showing indifference is (for me, anyway) keeping that indifference consistent. If you have a character that doesn't care about something, then you need to make certain that what the character does to show that is relatively consistent, or perceptive readers will decide that the character is lying - that they really do care. This may be the case unless you're trying to show a progression of some kind. A change to caring from not caring, or the other way around. That has it's own issues, so for today let's assume your character is consistent in their indifference.
Physical Differences
Like many of the other emotions we've covered so far, behavior is more key to the showing of indifference than physical signs. Behavior is more enduring, lasts longer, and can be a consistent thread throughout your story, rather than a one-off showing. However, behavior is usually easier to hide (think looking at a romantic interest's pictures on Facebook - behavior - as opposed to blushing furiously and stammering during conversation - physical differences). Physical differences are often made without our conscious consent:
glassy eyeseye rollingcrossed armsstaring into spacerelaxed postureyawning
Changes in Behavior
If you need to show a consistent indifference toward something or someone, then behavior is (depending on circumstances) probably your best bet. Something to watch out for when using these to show indifference, though, is that many can also be used to show ignorance. So be sure you know which it is, and use character dialogue and context to make it clear for your readers:
flippant about subject or person's feelingsinconsiderate, whether deliberate or accidentalrefusal to talk about or address issues (it's not worthy of their time, etc.)boredomno interest in actively learning about subject or person
not noticing changes or differences
not spending time thinking about the person, subject, or thing
As I said, showing indifference is relatively easy. It's just a character not caring about something. These are a few examples, but one thing to keep in mind is that, like real people, characters have very unique ways of handling things. So if you choose another way of showing your character is indifferent, just make sure that it's obvious enough for readers to grasp. (If you have a unique one I'd love to hear it, by the way!)
One of the hardest parts about showing indifference is (for me, anyway) keeping that indifference consistent. If you have a character that doesn't care about something, then you need to make certain that what the character does to show that is relatively consistent, or perceptive readers will decide that the character is lying - that they really do care. This may be the case unless you're trying to show a progression of some kind. A change to caring from not caring, or the other way around. That has it's own issues, so for today let's assume your character is consistent in their indifference.
Physical Differences
Like many of the other emotions we've covered so far, behavior is more key to the showing of indifference than physical signs. Behavior is more enduring, lasts longer, and can be a consistent thread throughout your story, rather than a one-off showing. However, behavior is usually easier to hide (think looking at a romantic interest's pictures on Facebook - behavior - as opposed to blushing furiously and stammering during conversation - physical differences). Physical differences are often made without our conscious consent:
glassy eyeseye rollingcrossed armsstaring into spacerelaxed postureyawning
Changes in Behavior
If you need to show a consistent indifference toward something or someone, then behavior is (depending on circumstances) probably your best bet. Something to watch out for when using these to show indifference, though, is that many can also be used to show ignorance. So be sure you know which it is, and use character dialogue and context to make it clear for your readers:
flippant about subject or person's feelingsinconsiderate, whether deliberate or accidentalrefusal to talk about or address issues (it's not worthy of their time, etc.)boredomno interest in actively learning about subject or person
not noticing changes or differences
not spending time thinking about the person, subject, or thing
As I said, showing indifference is relatively easy. It's just a character not caring about something. These are a few examples, but one thing to keep in mind is that, like real people, characters have very unique ways of handling things. So if you choose another way of showing your character is indifferent, just make sure that it's obvious enough for readers to grasp. (If you have a unique one I'd love to hear it, by the way!)
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