Feel Your Way Through Your Writing
Most writers want to in some way "move" their readers. In order to do this, you must first "move" their emotions. The truth is, readers want to feel what they're reading. They want to experience the emotions, whether real or made-up. So how can a writer write "emotionally"?
Try some of these exercises to stir your own emotions:
Remember a childhood event that made you cry or that frightened you and write about it. Try to relive these moments through all your senses. Was it cold that day? What time of year was it? What was the setting and how did the setting play a part in this event? Who were the others involved? Think about not only how you reacted in this situation, but how you "felt" on the inside, with queasy stomach, or burning throat, or itchy eyes, or numbness. Let your readers get inside of you. When you do this, your readers will "experience" your pain with you. Not only that, they will learn from your experience.
This exercise can be frightening because it means as a writer you might have to re-experience something you've been trying to forget. However, think of this exercise as something that will in essense "help" others see another side they've never seen. In order for your characters to take risks in revealing themselves to your readers, you have to be able to in some way reveal yourself.
Try the exercise. You don't have to show it to anyone. Do the exercise a few times on different events. Allow yourself to feel. I think you'll be surprised at how liberating this exercise can be.
Good luck.
Richelle
