Plot: Writing Angst

Angst is a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish. In the fanfic world, it is any dark story.

When writing angst, there are three main categories to look at: Your character, Your Plot and Yourself.

Your Character

1) Make your character's situation believable.

☞ For example, if she's mature or religious, she would not commit suicide even if her boyfriend broke up with her. Your character would similarly not get into a car accident immediately after an emotional fight. (Readers, accidents like this are becoming a bit too cliché.)

In other words, don't suddenly add angst just to have a little action or suspense.

2) Remember to match the character's personalities with the situation.

☞ If he's proud, he wouldn't openly admit his dejection and he may not even accept the fact that he's in pain.

☞ If he's genuinely lonely, he would not hesitate to approach his family or close friends for support.

☞ If he's naturally happy-go-lucky, he may either isolate himself from the world or immediately look for a shoulder to lean on.

Your Plot

1) When writing angst, use imagery. In other words, describe everything – the physical, emotional, psychological and social aspects – with as much detail as possible.

2) Never forget that the past, present and future should have clear causes and effects.

        ☞ For example, if your character's boyfriend is cheating on her, make sure to give secretive yet visible hints to the readers, especially if you're writing in 1^st person. Maybe the boyfriend's cellphone password is overly complicated, maybe the canceled date because of work can have a different meaning, or maybe even the glint in the boyfriend's eyes which your character used to love suddenly changed.

3) Happy endings can be just as unique and unexpected as resolutions dealing with amnesia, isolation, death, etc. Too much angst can become cliché.

Yourself

1) Read multiple angst stories before writing your own. Getting tips from other authors will never hurt.

2) Write angst based on your personal experience. Your own emotions written down will always be more believable than your imagination's.

3) Don't write angst for the sake of writing it. If you're overly sensitive and compassionate, I suggest that you go for fluff or another genre instead.

          ☞ The reason for this is because angst stories do not only deal with light topics such as break ups or simple failures but more complex and dark situations; slitting, jumping off a building, murder and such can be involved. Depending on the author and reader, the angst-filled plot can be a very negative example.

When writing angst, just remember the three categories: Your Character, Your Plot and Yourself. 

Credits: fanpop.com, [email protected], and about.com for imagery