Writing With Emotion

 

Two posters today that bring some insight to writing with emotion while bringing some emotion to the reader, as well. Both are helpful in creating a good piece of writing. 

The first poster quote by E.L. Doctorow tells us that we need to make our readers identify someting. Not that it's raining but that they feel that rain as they read. The way to do that is to show what you're writing about, not merely tell or report. 'The rain came harder, and Jean began to shiver as her clothes felt heavier and her hair plastered itself to her head. Her shoes squished as she plodded down the muddy road.' Doesn't that give you more of a picture, even make you shiver a bit, than if you said 'It rained as Jean walked home.'?

Look at the quote by Robert Frost. Sometimes, memoir writers hold back their real feelings as they write. It might be too painful to experience those emotions that assailed them during a traumatic event all over again. But, isn't the reason for writing the memoir to visit that part of life again and try to figure it out? If you hold those emotions inside, your reader is not going to feel what you're writing about either. You'll be reporting what happened but that's all. 

One of the reasons we write memoir is to help us heal after a difficult time in our lives. No, it isn't a cure-all, but one step in healing. As you write, relive the experience and let the emotions rumble and roil, bring them to the surface. You might write with tears wetting your cheeks, or you could feel a lot of anger or frustration. Isn't that one of the reasons you're writing a memoir about a troubling time in your life? To let it out? There is no shame in being emotional while writing. I think it's when you'll end up with some of your best writing.

All memoirs aren't sad tales. If you're writing a memoir about growing up in a special family, show the joy that you lived with, the special qualities your parents and siblings had. Show the laughter and the love. Don't only tell it. Feel it and your reader will, as well.

What if you're writing a humorous story or personal essay? If you write with a sour face, that humor is not going to come through as well as it might if you write with a smile on your face and an occasional chuckle. 

Emotion and sensation are both parts of writing a writer needs to perfect. Keep in mind that showing rather than telling will be a great help in both of these aspects.