"Blogspiration" is a weekly blog meme hosted by Growing Up YA & Saz101.
I read this in the book The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the Story Within by Alan Watt, a book on the craft of writing and story-telling. I really like it because it tackles the issue of dealing with and using fear to not only not get in your way when you write, but to help you write better.
How can fear help you write better? According to Watt, it can help because fear is a part of the human experience and a story is always, always, always better when real human beings can relate to it. If you have a fear of writing, then how does that fear relate to your story? It probably does and can be used as a place to write from. Infuse your character with that fear and he/she will become that much more real.
For example, you almost definitely have the fear of your story being rejected. How can your main character be infused with the fear of being rejected by other characters/society in your story?
For example, you almost definitely have the fear of your story being rejected. How can your main character be infused with the fear of being rejected by other characters/society in your story?
Well, I never thought fear could actually be useful when writing!
Has your fear of writing ever actually been useful to you when writing?
This is definitely true for me. I have a tendency of placing my characters in situations where they stand to lose something very dear to them, and this is something we can all relate to in some way. I use the fear I've felt before to inform their reactions. It is useful in creating a realistic story, and it also helps me vent feelings I've kept reigned in.
ReplyDelete@L.G.: Good example of using a real fear from your life in your story!
DeleteI'm still trying to reconcile the fear with the writing. I think it works much better in some circumstances and in some genres. I've always wanted to try and write a contemporary novel so I imagine the fear would be great for that. This book sounds like it's really helpful. I might try and find it.
ReplyDelete@Lan: Yeah, I think this book is really helpful in getting a 1st draft finished and getting past the fear of writing it that gets in the way. I'm in major need of anything that can help me with that.
DeleteI had a dream. And it felt so real. It was like I was in it and also the narrator of the story in the background. I remembered everything in the morning. I thought about it all day if I should write it down. And then I did. And I felt great about it. It wasn't at all bad, it was actually very good :) Not that I've let anyone read it, but still :P Great blogspiration! ;)
ReplyDelete@Nea: That's great! I wish I could dream of things to write.
DeleteIt's not exactly the same, but I think it relates - one of my pet hates in books is when authors don't handle trauma realistically. So, maybe they put their characters through traumatic situations, for the sake of the plot, but don't show how it impacts emotionally, mentally, socially and physically on the character. It makes me so mad!
ReplyDeleteObviously, I don't think you have to limit yourself to what you have personally experienced - otherwise we wouldn't have fantasy and sci-fi and historical fiction and so many other such genres. But I do think that in terms of emotions, you can use the negatives that have happened to you as a kick-off point to create better depth and honesty - I guess just like you say in your post. I think humans are pretty good at recognising inauthenticity, and we respect those authors who themselves acknowledge and respect the weight of the dark stuff - fear and vulnerability and grief and pain - of life.
Ugh, I don't know if I'm still making sense. Like, in one of my current projects, I have a character who's suicidal. Now, I personally haven't ever reached that point. But I do know what it's like to be seriously depressed, and I do know what it's like to be terrified that you're going to die. And I can use those thoughts and feelings and fears to make my character's own journey as honest and real as possible.
So yeah, I totally agree. Fear - if you can channel it right - can be incredibly useful. :-)
*remembers to breathe. takes deep breaths for a while*
I think many different experiences can be translated to fantasy, sci fi and historical fiction. I did the mule ride to the bottom of the grand canyon this year. I experienced a fear of heights I never knew I had, severe pain from riding for hours with very little riding experience, and the most breathtaking scenery I've ever seen. I can, and since have, fit those emotions into several different scenarios.
ReplyDeleteThink about a moment when you were truly terrified, and you'll be surprised how easily it fits into a scene where you want your character to be terrified. Even if the situations are completely different.
I'm not sure my fear of writing has ever translated directly into something I've used in a book, but I definitely have explored my real-world fears in my work. Nice post, Cathy! You always make me THINK! :)
ReplyDelete@Camille: Yeah, it's not something most writers would ever think to do, but sounds like an interesting idea. Glad I make you think! ;)
DeleteOMG!!! That book sounds fantastic and I'm definitely going to pick it up!
ReplyDeleteHa! I use fear in my writing all the time -- but just for my characters. The most important thing about writing Horror is to have the characters feel/show fear. The readers won't be scared unless the characters are. :-)
ReplyDeleteCathy... wow. I've had this open in my browser all week, and... I've read it so many times and WOW. Seriously thank you thank you thank you for sharing this ♥
ReplyDelete@Sarah: You're welcome! Glad you've found this helpful. :)
DeleteI haven't really used the fear of writing to help my work, but I have used other fears to relate to my characters' fears in my stories. :)
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm new, found you on IWSG.
ReplyDeleteThe fear of writing hasn't helped but writing about my fears has. My latest post was an exercise in exactly that. I made mention of something I NEVER speak of let alone write.
Think I'll check out Alan Watt's book. Thanks for the prompt!
@Green Monkey: Yeah, of course writing about other fears and channeling them when you write is such a great way to portray realism in your writing. I think you'll like this book if you have any trouble with fearing your own writing.
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