"Show don't Tell."
Sound familiar? It should, as a writer you are using words to evoke a response from your reader, to paint a picture in their minds eye. As a reader would you rather see:
Terror washed over Jim's features, catatonic he stood still.
Or:
Jim's pupils dilated and he drew in a sharp shuddering breath as first the scents hit him then the terrible sight took form, something had lade waste to the valley. Taking in the carnage before him, pulse racing he couldn't force his limbs into motion.
This sort of description is referred to as Sensual. It paints a picture, it evokes a natural response from the reader, if you do this right then the reader will naturally feel for your character and you won't have to hold their hand and tell them everything.
Some great advice on writing emotion; Writing as a Sacred Path or eHow.
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