HOW TO SHOW CONFUSION IN WRITING! “She was confused.” — Boring. “She didn’t understand.” — Still boring.

Confusion isn’t a thought. It’s a reaction. It leaks out of the body before the character even says “what?”

Here’s how to write it so it feels lived-in. Reblog if you want more of these!

When a whumpee wakes up ill or rouses from passing out and they have no clue what’s going on, what happened, where they are, or even who they are. They might not recognize familiar people. Maybe they feel affection, safety, relief, or fear towards the person/people above them, but can’t recall names.

Alternatively, a whumpee gets more and more confused as their condition progresses. This can be from blood loss, intense pain, shock, concussion, hypothermia, heat stroke, dehydration, starvation, and exhaustion as well as fever.

Always remember to give your whumpee slurred, spacey dialogue. Here are some examples:

“….ngh….w-wh’re m’I…..?”(a classic. It’s especially good when the whumpee is in their own bed)

“…wha’s…goin on….?” (when they don’t want to open their eyes and/or people are freaking out over them)

“…wha hppnd...? (When the floor/bed/cold bath/hospital/person’s arms they’re on/in is very different from the last thing they remember)

“…m’scared…” (because that’s their reaction to knowing nothing)

Of course, Caretaker will have to collect themself enough to explain to Whumpee in simple sentences what happened in a way that lessens the severity of what’s really going on. For example:

“It’s okay, it’s me. You had an accident, but we’re patching you up.” (Whumpee’s body is completely broken)

“You’re in bed. You’re not feeling well” (Whumpee passed the fuck out)

“Hey, shhh shhh… We’re just getting your fever down” (Whumpee wakes up thrashing in a cold bath)