Write from where it Hurts

Writing can be an incredibly healing and cathartic process.  Some of the very best writing comes from authors being brave enough to explore their most profound, darkest, most agonizing thoughts and memories and translating them to the page.

Many writers can feel scared or intimidated by exploring their own intense emotions. Dwelling on when they have felt most alone, most scared, most sad can feel incredibly daunting. However, doing so, and using writing as a tool to express those feelings can bring about great relief.  Also, it may well create some incredibly raw, touching work while they are at it.

So how does one write where it hurts? How does an author find a way to get in touch with their most intimidating emotions, their secret feelings, their innermost fears?

Here are some tips to try:

Sit in a dark, quiet room

To tap into those buried emotions, you might find you need peace and quiet. Sit somewhere you know you won’t be disturbed and just open your mind and let your thoughts flow. Make sure there are no distractions and really focus on your thoughts.

Drink some wine (!)

OK so this may not work for everyone but having a glass of wine can sometimes help you to be less critical of yourself and allow your thoughts to become freer and float more readily to the surface. Focus on memories, issues you are struggling with or thoughts you usually try to block out. When they come to you, write them down.

Listen to emotive music.

Music can have a powerful effect on our emotions, so why not create a playlist of songs that evoke memories for you, or make you feel a certain way to get you in the right frame of mind and mood to write more emotionally?

Write freely

When you are trying to write with emotion, never censor yourself. Always allow yourself to write freely and without judgement. It doesn’t matter if it’s not eloquent or even that it doesn’t make sense at times; you can refine and shape it later.

Focus on how you feel afterwards

Writing in this way can be incredibly relieving and cathartic – is this how you feel after you’ve finished a session? If so, focus on these feelings of relief and weightlessness so you’ll be more motivated to try again. Remember, this kind of writing requires a certain amount of bravery, but doing so can make a powerful difference to your work, draw readers in, and if they have had shared experiences, can make them feel connected to you and understood.

I want to stop here an encourage to visit the authors website.  There is a whole world to view, and I can’t give justice to her by just copying and pasting. 

Check it out:  writerslife.org  

 

 

 

Here is a thought that may give you some motivation, a new avenue to explore:

Write to Heal Others

Strengthening Your Sense of Purpose

Engaging in writing, whether through personal reflection or storytelling, helps you find meaning in your life experiences. It also allows you to reframe negative events and see challenges as opportunities for growth. Additionally, you’re able to share your life with others who may be going through similar challenges and life experiences.

• Helping Others Through Writing: Sharing your story through blogging, books, or social media inspires and supports others on their own journey. When times are tough, we often feel alone and isolated in our struggles. Yet knowing that others have had similar experiences gives us hope and comfort to move past it.

 

Nonetheless, kept writing, channeling those powerful emotions of pain and longing and hope into your main character’s actions and dialogue.

Just keep writing!

Source 2:  guidinglightpub.com