Tips for describing pain

Pain is a universal experience, an inevitability of being alive. But it's a tricky subject to write about, mainly because it's so subjective. From a scraped knee to a broken heart, pain wears many masks. This article aims to provide guidance and inspiration for describing pain in your writing.

The purpose of the pain

Pain should serve a purpose in your story. As a plot point, it should provide motivation, reveal information, create conflict, or trigger growth. If the pain doesn't change anything in the story or for the character, it can feel unnecessary and frustrating to the reader.

The purpose of pain in your story could also be more symbolic, representing a theme or metaphor in your narrative.

Chronic pain deserves special consideration. If you're writing about disease or disability, it's crucial to approach the topic with sensitivity and respect. Consider working with a sensitivity reader to avoid relying on harmful stereotypes or tropes.

Challenges of writing about pain

Pain is a deeply personal experience, and everyone reacts to it differently. Some people are vocal and expressive, while others are stoic and suppressive.

Translating this complex, deeply personal experience into words presents many challenges. Firstly, capturing the unique and subjective nature of pain requires skill and empathy. You must put yourself in your character's shoes, imagining their tolerance, history, and coping mechanisms. Then you have to convey this in a way that aligns with their character development and the tone of the narrative.

Secondly, accurately portraying the type and level of pain requires research and understanding. A gunshot wound doesn't feel the same as a sprained ankle, and heartbreak doesn't feel the same as humiliation. You must understand the sensations associated with these different experiences and translate them into words that resonate with readers.

Keeping descriptions of pain interesting for the reader is crucial. Repeated references to pain can feel monotonous and may distance the reader from the story. Hence, creative and varied descriptions are key to maintaining engagement.

Achieving authenticity and readability

Research is a top priority. The more accurately you can describe pain, the more believable your writing will be. This might mean talking to people who have experienced similar pain, consulting medical texts, or even reflecting on your own past pain experiences.

Consider the source, intensity, and duration of the pain. Is it a sharp, sudden sting or a dull, lingering ache? Does it throb, twinge, pound, burn, stab, or prick? These details help paint a vivid picture of the pain, making it feel more authentic to readers.

Use pain descriptions to:

1. Reveal character: How a character reacts to pain can reveal much about their personality, values, and history. For instance, in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Lisbeth Salander's ability to endure extreme physical and emotional pain reveals her resilience and willpower.
2. Advance the plot: Pain can catalyze action, driving the plot forward. For example, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry's pain from the scar triggers the realisation that Voldemort is regaining power, setting the stage for the rest of the series.
3. Create mood (but avoid overdoing it): Pain can create a tense, sombre, or eerie mood, depending on its nature and how it's described. In Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart, the protagonist's psychological pain contributes to the story's overall atmosphere of madness and guilt.Remember that reminding the reader of a character's pain is a delicate balance. Overdo it, and you risk losing your reader's sympathy or interest. Underdo it and the pain feels unreal or insignificant. A good rule of thumb is to remind the reader whenever the pain would reasonably affect the character's actions or emotions.

Your pain thesaurus: Words and phrases to describe pain

1. Mild physical pain: an itch, a sting, a pinch, a twinge, a prickle
2. Moderate physical pain: a burn, an ache, a throb, a pang, a stab
3. Severe physical pain: a scorch, a sear, a wrench, a jolt, a blaze
4. Mild emotional pain: a twinge, a pinch, a sting, a flutter, a prickle
5. Moderate emotional pain: a pang, a burn, a throb, an ache, a stab
6. Severe emotional pain: a wrench, a torment, a whirl, a storm, a flood

The injury dictionary: Describing pain from specific injuries

1. A cut: sharp, stinging, searing
2. A burn: throbbing, blistering, scalding
3. A bruise: aching, tender, throb
4. A fracture: sharp, stabbing, shooting
5. A sprain: throbbing, pulsing, swelling
6. A bite: nipping, gnawing, throbbing
7. A sting: sharp, burning, prickling
8. A concussion: throbbing, pulsing, confusing
9. A dislocation: searing, wrenching, numbing
10. A scrape: stinging, raw, tender
11. A puncture: sharp, stabbing, throbbing
12. A blister: burning, tender, chafing
13. A muscle strain: aching, tight, cramping
14. A gunshot wound: burning, stabbing, shocking
15. A stab wound: piercing, searing, throbbing

Writing pain with compassion and clarity

Pain is a tricky subject, but it's also a powerful tool for storytelling. It reveals character, advances plot, and evokes empathy. Whether it's a scraped knee or a shattered heart, let your description of pain be as authentic, unique, and complex as the character experiencing it. Write about pain with compassion, clarity, and, most importantly, humanity.

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