What is Mood?

If you've ever felt transported by a work of literature, a part of that experience likely had to do with the mood created by the author. Put simply, mood refers to the emotional atmosphere evoked by a story, poem, or other creative piece. This may manifest in a variety of ways, such as through the use of specific word choices, descriptions of settings, or character interactions.

A writer's ability to evoke a mood can greatly impact the reader's experience of their work. For example, a suspenseful mystery novel might aim to keep readers on edge by constantly creating a sense of unease, while a romantic poem might use the beauty of nature to evoke feelings of love and tenderness. The mood can also shift throughout a piece of writing, reflecting changes in tone, setting, or character experiences.

When crafting your own creative work, consider the mood you want to evoke and how you can use various elements of writing--such as sentence structure, imagery, and figurative language--to achieve it. Pay attention to the details that will allow your reader to feel fully immersed in the emotional undercurrent of your story or poem.