I keep feeling like I'm lacking something in my writing. It's as if there is an untapped part of me I can't set free in my writing. When I write, I feel like there is something missing. Not always, but quite often I think I can do better than what I've done. It's not in the plotting, I don't have a problem there. My descriptions are good. But I don't feel as if I've cut to the core of the emotions I'm trying to express in my characters.
Much of what I write is romantic suspense where the hero and heroine spend a lot of their time trying to stay alive rather than doing a bunch of soulsearching. I do not like to write introspection, but then I don't think an internal narrative is always the best way to express the depth of a character. I don't know, maybe I'm being hormonal, I'm not sure. Any ideas?
In Other News...
Erika and Joe were eliminated from "Beauty and the Geek" this week. Erika has come to the conclusion she might be "shallow." Gee, ya think so?
10 comments:
I know what you mean. Emotions are so hard to write. But when you can somehow tap into them and make them real upon the page, that's when the magic happens. Good luck!
I have the same problem. I'm more into action than introspect. I don't like to slow down the reader, but then where is there room for emotion, right?
What I do is reread through scenes, and when a dramatic action takes place I know there has to be an internal reaction, but the key is knowing how your charater will react, what they'll think. Yet, the in depth internal reaction shouldn't happen at a peak moment. There has to be a moment of rest, a moment for realization.
I know I'm blabbing my mouth, but it's hard when you feel there is something missing from your writing. I've been there a lot. I know you'll pull through it. Good luck. =)
I often think that if only I could write what I FEEL my characters are feeling. It's hard! You know when you read a book and it moves you to tears or whatever? I want to make my characters so real that they can do that to readers. Sigh.
I often wonder if I actually convey what I want them to be feeling onto the paper. I think I do better at emotion than action, but that doesn't mean I do emotion well. lol Then again, if I focus on it, I'm afraid it will sound canned.
I think that a lot of developing a character has to do with how they react to events, especially life threating events. I (also a writer, aspiring to be published) do write in a lot of emotion in my stories, but I think that the strongest writing that I do comes out in the action scenes. But, I think that there needs to be a balance of both introspection and action.
Very hard. Somtimes its easier when you go back and see, yeah, I did convey what I wanted. In the moment, it does get frustrating. Of course, I have it on good authority that the more you write, the better you get at it all. I'm hoping.
Rene, you need to express emotion in the midst of danger, and that's really difficult because things are happenings so fast. The best advice I can give is to study the greats! See how they do it!
I think we've all been there at one time or another. Just don't give up, this too shall pass, I promise.
Rene - I think this is something we ALL go through. The story sounds so good in our heads, but when we read what we've written, as you say - it feels like something is missing. Critique partners help somewhat, as they're often able to see what else is needed. But in the end, they can't help us with that nagging feeling. I think it must be something all artistic people feel.
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