Can’t you just picture a writer hunched over their computer, notes scattered across his desk, and tears streaming down his face as he writes his scene? I’m probably the only one seeing that. Lack of sleep makes me delusional.
In typical insomniac fashion (can’t sleep, cruise WordPress), I was reading through posts under the writing tag when I stumbled on one by Limebirds. The post itself was talking about writing better when you’re sad or something to that effect. Of course this woke the sleepy little hamsters that wheel around in my brain and I got to thinking about my writing.
(I think about a lot of random things when I can’t sleep. This was the safest topic rolling around in my braIn. Be glad not everything I think makes it pass the thin filter in my mind. You’re welcome.)
I realized that I tend to be motivated to write by stronger emotions, but angst isn’t usually the one that prompts me to write stories. Actually, different emotions push me to write different things.
I’m feeling all angsty or angry because that guy I was talking to turned into a huge Douche (every single guy I’ve ever tried talking to)?? Time to write some bad poetry!!!
Feeling all hormonal like I’m going to jump the next hot guy who ambles, yes, ambles, by me?? Time to write a steamy (extra, extra steamy) short story! Or five. >;.>;
Feeling happy because … Um? Hm… Oh! Feeling happy because my puppy adores me unconditionally even though he’s dumb as a rock? Now I have a general desire to write whatever though usually it’s bad poetry. I try keeping more of that to myself. You’re welcome.
Mostly, though, I write because I can’t help it. My motivation is an overwhelming need to create even if what I’m creating is bad poetry (apparently, my poetry is on my mind). I guess I don’t consider the emotions because I write no matter how I feel. The end product will either be amazing or garbage whether I was in a great mood or not.
The need to write is greater than the emotions I’m feeling when I’m writing.
If I’m honest, I’d also say I’m not paying close enough attention to how I feel when I’m writing. I’m too busy trying to figure out if what I’m saying makes sense. Maybe if I stop writing when I’m suffering from insomnia, it would make sense. Wishful thinking.
Am I the only one oblivious to their emotional state when they write? Are you more motivated creatively when your emotions are intense?
Let the angsty, bad poetry writing commence!!!
Thanks for the mention!
I feel that excess emotion makes it harder for me to write well. When something emotional has happened, such as discovering huge Douche, I save all that writing for my journal. And not LiveJournal either. Doesn’t mean some people can’t write while emo. I just can’t. I have to sit on an idea for a while until, like a dish taken out of the oven, it cools off enough for me to touch it.
I like to turn those instances into a story. I journal too though. I think I work those things out better if I write them in a story or a bad poem. Thanks for your comment. I liked the last bit especially.
I do find I write more poetry when filled with strong emotion, usually when it’s unexpressed in other ways. Or if I can’t find the words to express it, I’ll write really cryptic poems, which are my favorite, lol.
For the most part I’m fairly emotionally stable these days, though, and still seem to be doing a fair amount of writing in general, but not much poetry.
I need more emotional stability! Where do I find that at?? Lol. I’m a fount of bad poetry sometimes.
I am always moody when it comes to writing. It’s like a switch goes on and another part of me comes out- I am so capable of writing bad poetry and not so bad poetry. I think we all write for the same reason. It is like a volcano is in us and we must get out the lava (i.e bad poetic metaphor).:)
I love bad poetic metaphors!
My kids laugh at me when I make faces as I write; it is because I am feeling what my characters feel. And, yes, I have sat at the keyboard with tears streaming down my face as I write–not always, but, for instance, when I am writing a last conversation between a dying mother and her kids. Then,yeah, I get emotional. So I guess that makes me an emotional writer. It is what I look for in a good read–to experience and feel what the characters are feeling. Interesting post!
I don’t ever think I’ve cried over something that’s happened, but I have gotten to the end of a sad scene and felt depressed. I’m only emotional about my stories after I’m done writing them.
I do this too! Well, I’ve never actually cried over a scene, but I do feel what my characters feel. If they are in love, I am in love. If they are sad or depressed, I am sad or depressed. If they are frustrated, I’m frustrated. Ususally the empathy only lasts while I’m in the story, though, writing or editing. The feeling seems to be like a jacket a don or discard as needed.
I remember reading something somewhere that told JK Rowlings feelings as she was writing the dealth scene of Sirius Black in her Harry Potter series. It was before the book was published, so she didn’t say which character, but she was reported to saying she felt very weepy and her husband was actually very concerned about her mood until she explained that she killed the character off. She didn’t want to, but there was no other way around it and it saddened her so much because she truly loved that character.
Okay, to begin with, I dont write much even though I simply love the idea of writing. And this is probably so because when I do write, I am on an emotional high. A positive emotional high. Its also one of the reasons I cannot edit either my poems or my musings. Because they are written on the spot and as the words flow. Once they are out, they are out and done. The bond is severed. If I write after the fact, it seems fake and I cannot relate to it. So there it is. My two cents worth.
*a confused,cant-help-it, whatcha gonna do kinda shrug*
On a totally different note, thank you for visiting and liking my post.
Maybe that’s why I have a hard time editing. Maybe I’m a lot more emotional during the actual writing then I realized because the task of editing is a hard one. I can’t recapture the mood. Thanks for stopping by.
Usually write when the mood hits me, no matter what the subject. I would agree about editing. I make sure it sounds good and then I send it to my mother in law for the grammar. I then move on to the next story.
To be honest, I kind of feel like my best blog posts come from emotional, sometimes dark places. And I hate that fact. Because I don’t like being in those emotional and dark places.
When I’m writing creatively, on the other hand, I don’t necessarily think that’s true. I need to be able to put myself in the shoes of my characters and feel what they’re feeling. I also need to be able to be a third party observer and see what’s happening around the characters in the scene as well. I think the fiction is a far broader set of emotions and perspectives than the blog. And sometimes the fiction is easier and more fun to write…
I just don’t think I pay enough attention to how I’m feeling when I’m writing to think about this. That’s why the topic was so interesting to me. Emotions don’t always drive how I write creatively, but have been helpful in the writing process. That’s when I’m aware of them that is
I find it easier to write when I’m emotionally in the mood to do so. If I’m not, my work seems forced and contrived. (PS – when I wrote the ending to my full length work of fiction, I teared up…not with relief that I was finished with the draft but because of the pure emotion of the scene…)
~Susan
Haha! Your hooks seem to always make me laugh as well. And they’re never the same. Always a fresh, humorous way to invite your readers further.
I think I need to be more aware of the very first sentence or two of my pieces; it could make a big difference in keeping attention or gaining someone’s interest, beyond content alone.
I’m going to stop “insomniac-cruising” right now–thanks for the great thoughts and fun reading material!
They say the first few lines of anything determine whether you’ll keep reading. I try keeping that in mind as I write. I fall flat sometimes though. Thanks for stopping in and good luck getting your work done.