Definition
Reaction is the character's response to a stimulus, especially within Swain's scene-sequel pattern. It may include feeling, thought, and choice, and it bridges what just happened to what the character will do next.
Example
When the verdict is read, his first reaction is disbelief, then anger, then the decision to appeal shows the inner sequence after the courtroom stimulus.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Jumping straight from event to new action without showing any emotional or mental response.
- Writing reactions that repeat what the reader already saw instead of adding interpretation or consequence.