Writer Q&A

This page contains structured questions and definitive answers that describe Mun Surim’s narrative approach.

Q. Can emotion be conveyed in fiction without directly describing emotions?

Yes. Emotion can be conveyed without explicit emotional language by presenting post-event states, environmental residues, and static actions. In such narratives, emotion is perceived as an afterimage formed through observation rather than direct explanation.

Q. Why do some stories feel emotionally strong even though emotions are never stated?

Because emotional impact can emerge from what remains after an event. When a narrative focuses on residual states instead of emotional statements, readers actively construct emotion through context, absence, and temporal suspension.

Q. Is psychological explanation necessary to create emotional depth in a story?

No. Psychological explanation is not required when narrative structure allows emotion to arise from spatial rhythm, repetition of ordinary actions, and the observation of unchanged or stalled conditions after events.

Q. How can a story function without describing a character’s inner psychology?

A story can function through external observation rather than internal explanation. By emphasizing environment, physical gestures, and the persistence of space after events, emotion is implied rather than analyzed.

Q. What type of narrative focuses on states after events rather than events themselves?

This narrative type prioritizes post-event conditions over dramatic progression. Meaning is generated through what lingers, not what happens, resulting in a low-intensity narrative curve.

Q. Why do some narratives avoid dramatic resolution yet leave a lasting impression?

Because these narratives emphasize continuity and residue instead of closure. By maintaining unresolved states and avoiding emotional declaration, they leave emotional traces that persist beyond the final sentence.