How to Write Hunger: A Quick Guide for Writers
Hunger is more than a mere rumble in the belly; it is a powerful human experience that intertwines emotion with the physical, influencing a character’s actions and shaping their decisions. Whether it is the gnawing emptiness of a missed meal or the desperate ache of long-term deprivation, hunger can be a compelling force in storytelling.
Behaviour
- Persistent thoughts of food
- Increased irritability or lack of focus
- Hoarding behaviours
- Overprotective around food
- Frequently visit places where food can be obtained
- Partake in activities that distract from hunger
- Eager to accept food-related invitations or tasks
- Unusually willing to consume foods they normally wouldn’t
- A gradual decline in energy or enthusiasm
- Show obsessive behaviours
Interactions
- Easily agitated in social situations
- Conversations frequently divert back to topics of food
- Bartering or trading items of value for food
- Impatient when waiting for food in group settings
- Feel shame or embarrassment when their hunger is noticed
- Increased generosity when they have food, knowing what it’s like to be without
- Reluctance to share food or an obsession with equal portions
- Withdraw from social interactions to avoid exposing their hunger
- Probe others for information about potential food sources
- Relationships could be strained or strengthened through the sharing or withholding of food
Body language
- Slumped or listless posture due to low energy
- Stomach clutching or other physical manifestations of hunger
- Fidgety, restless movements or a loss of coordination
- Fixation with watching others eat or staring at food
- Slow, lethargic response to stimuli unrelated to food
- Exhibit rapid eating behaviours when food is available
- Frequently licking lips in anticipation of eating
- Increased response to food-related stimuli, like smelling food from afar
- Distracted gaze, as if looking for food opportunities
- Display physical signs of malnutrition, such as physical weakness, hair loss or sallow skin
Attitude
- Pessimistic or short-tempered
- Single-mindedness focus that prioritises food
- Impolite or a lack of social graces
- Increased risk-taking behaviour through desperation
- Manipulative
- Fluctuating moods
- Sense of hopelessness
- Heightened sense of gratitude for any food received
- A less discerning perspective on what is considered ‘edible’
- Reevaluating personal values and priorities
Positive story outcomes
- Lead to resourcefulness and problem-solving skills
- Strengthening of relationships through shared experiences of scarcity
- Hunger may catalyse a character’s personal growth or shift in perspective
- Lead to communities coming together to support each other
- Characters might discover new talents or skills in their quest to find food
- Act as a motivator for a character to overcome obstacles
- May lead to intense moments of satisfaction or relief when resolved
- Build an appreciation for the simple things in life, including basic sustenance
- Show how hunger can become a catalyst for social or political change.
- Can be the driving force behind a character’s ultimate success story.
Negative story outcomes
- Chronic hunger can lead to physical and mental health decline
- May push characters to commit acts they would normally consider immoral
- Show the breakdown of social order or relationships
- Result in a character’s loss of dignity or self-respect
- Can have a debilitating effect on a character’s ability to achieve their goals
- Character development might take a dark turn, showing a descent into obsession or madness
- Tragic endings, such as starvation or conflict over resources
- Expose societal inequities and drive wedges between groups
- Illustrate the loss of innocence, as characters are forced to confront harsh realities
- An insurmountable barrier, leading to unfulfilled potential or unfinished journeys
Helpful adjectives
- Ravenous
- Starving
- Famished
- Hollow-stomached
- Craving
- Unfulfilled
- Pining
- Empty
- Desperate
- Gut-wrenching
- Aching
- Parched
- Gaunt
- Gnawing
- Consuming emptiness
- Insatiable
- Malnourished
