I am, and always have been, an emotional writer. Which is great when they are flowing, the problem is you don't usually know you're shutting them off until it's happened, and then it can be a struggle turning them back on again.
I have been having a difficult time with my writing of late. The content is highly emotional and at times contrary to everything I believe. However, it is a story I feel strongly about and one that just won't rest. I need to write it.
The problem I'm having is that over this last month I subconsciously shut off my emotions as a coping mechanism. We have had the anniversary of a very close friends passing, a child, and I'm just not in the right head space to write what I need to write. This conflict is creating a block, because as I'm writing about someone willingly taking their life, I'm grieving the loss of someone that didn't.
I have had to leave it and work on other things, but it is still there, constantly nagging at me, and I know I need to get back to it.
So, what do you do when your real life collides with your writing? Honestly, I don't know. I'm always open to ideas. For me though, I think I just need to reconnect to my story. Harder said than done, for sure, but I know that it will come eventually so I'm not forcing it. It has to come from a real place, I need to feel it, so all I can give it is time.
The other reason I think there is a block isn't due to lack of emotion, rather the fear of them. Knowing that potentially there is a flood-gate about to open and not feeling ready for that experience.
How much do your emotions play a part in what you write? Have you read back over your work and felt like something was wrong, but you just can't put your finger on what it was?
I know that when that happens to me it means I wasn't connected enough to it. When I go back and rewrite, often a deeper emotional connection happens as the true meaning of the story/scene begins to seep in. That is why rewriting is so important for me. When I've stood back for a while and then come back to it, fresh and replenished, I can feel all the emotional holes and usually feel what needs to happen to improve them.
Time, as always, is the answer I fear. For this impatient soul there in lies the frustration, but also the biggest lesson.
You can't rush art!
Happy writing ;)
Emma
No comments :
Post a Comment
The purpose of this blog is to inspire, promote and encourage. Free-thinking and tastefully articulated comments are welcome, everyone is entitled to their opinions, however - anything offensive will be removed.