SOMBERNESS DEFINITION:A feeling of melancholy or gloom PHYSICAL SIGNALS AND BEHAVIORS: An unmoving stance A voice devoid of emotion; deadpan A grave expression (an inward gaze, lips pressed slightly, eyebrows close together, etc.) A sad or serious demeanor Hands folded in one’s lap Sitting quietly Letting out a heavy sigh Responding with a slow nod rather than speaking Flaccid yet unwelcoming (closed) body language A tendency to look down Hesitating before speaking, as if weighing one’s words Dark or heavy observations A bleak mood that affects others, lessens energy, or brings people down Loose posture, the shoulders dropping Speaking at the air rather than making eye contact with others Gazing downward with the hands clasped loosely behind the back A slow walk Smooth, expressionless features Keeping one’s arms and legs in close to the body Functional and precise movements Unsmiling; humorless Choosing one’s words deliberately Not reacting to stimuli (laughter, excitement, activities, etc.) Drab, colorless clothing choices A grim twist to the mouth Sedate mannerisms; minimal or economical movement Eyes that look dark or serious Opening the mouth to speak and then closing it and shaking one’s head An unnatural stillness Not responding when someone calls one’s name Using an arm to prop up one’s chin, the fingers covering one’s mouth Being less enthusiastic about former enjoyments (food, favorite sports teams, etc.) INTERNAL SENSATIONS: Fatigue; lacking energy Heaviness in the limbs or muscles A weighed-down feeling Slow and even breathing MENTAL RESPONSES: A subdued personality A negative outlook A desire to be alone Difficulty engaging in conversation Searching internally for answers rather than asking others Losing track of time Finding it hard to pay attention; getting lost in one’s thoughts ACUTE OR LONG-TERM RESPONSES FOR THIS EMOTION: Accepting a negative outcome or realization Becoming uninterested in hobbies or entertainments Melancholy; gloominess Shunning other people who are not of like mind Inability to focus on the needs of others (children, family, etc.) Being apathetic toward goals, desires, or upcoming events SIGNS THAT THIS EMOTION IS BEING SUPPRESSED: Forced laughter A too-frequent smile Smiles that quickly fade Agreeing to attend happy social events, then not showing Smiles that don’t reach the eyes Light words delivered in a serious tone Adding an adornment (a pin, fancy hat, a bright scarf, etc.) solely for appearances MAY ESCALATE TO:Depressed,Despair,Resignation MAY DE-ESCALATE TO:Indifference,Moody ASSOCIATED POWER VERBS: Avoid, brood, commiserate, complain darken, defeat, deflate, despair dim, dismiss, dwell, ebb mope, mumble, mute, shrug sigh, slack, worry WRITER’S TIP:If your scene includes a small dip into the past to retrieve information that has direct bearing on the current action, make sure there is an emotional component. Emotions are triggers to memory and help tie the present to the past.