Frustration can leave you feeling helpless and impotent. Or almost anything else bitter, harsh or cynical. When your brain is tied up in knots, when you are spinning your wheels, or you find yourself talking to inanimate objects, you are probably frustrated. Your characters may feel frustrated too. Here are a few suggestions.
Frustration often expresses itself with the hands.
Your character may bunch her hands into fists, feeling the fingernails bite into her palm. In extreme cases, she may slap her antagonist, usually followed by remorse, because this is frustration, not anger. Inside, he is feeling his heart beating more quickly, breath coming more quickly, hands shaking, all of which he will try to hide. It may come out by tapping a pencil on the table, or drumming his fingers, or biting the lip. Hearing Hearing What your character will be hearing when frustrated are words that tell her how bad she is.