This month’s theme may be an easier one for our paranormal or suspense writers. In my case, I’ll have to put a different spin on it than you might expect. The scariest scenes I’ve ever written are ones that were scary for me emotionally.
You’ve probably heard the quote, commonly attributed to Ernest Hemingway. According to Quote Investigator (https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/09/14/writing-bleed/), it was probably first said by Walter Wellesley (Red) Smith: “Red Smith was asked if turning out a daily column wasn’t quite a chore. …'Why, no,' dead-panned Red. 'You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.'" Whoever said it first, there is some truth to it.
To put their characters’ emotions on the page, writers must access their own. Maybe I haven’t been in that person’s exact situation, but I need to recall something like it to capture what the character is feeling at that moment. That can be tough to do, and scary to open yourself up and be so vulnerable.
I’ve put my characters through a lot of negative emotions over the years, including fear, disappointment, anger, and grief. Which means I’ve had to go through all that, too. Here’s an excerpt from a scene in Golden Days that was hard for me to write, as I had to access grief. Elizabeth’s mother has just died:
Days slipped by as people came over to pay their respects before the funeral. Elizabeth was numb at times, and heartsick at times. Waves of sadness crashed over her as she held on to Papa or Mrs. Thompson. She got used to wearing black, which suited her mood anyway. She tried to be strong for Victoria, let her cry on her lap or hold her hand. She missed Mama already, and the whole thing was so unfair. But she knew the best course was to keep plowing through.
I hope I’ve done it well enough for the reader to empathize with my character. That’s one of my goals in writing. Books can help us understand each other and remember we’re all human.
May your own emotions be more positive than negative, and you have someone to help you through the tough days. Take care of yourself.
Lynn Lovegreen has lived in Alaska for over fifty years. After twenty years in the classroom, she retired to make more time for writing. She enjoys her friends and family, reading, and volunteering at her local library. Her young adult historical fiction is set in Alaska, a great place for drama, romance, and independent characters. See her website at www.lynnlovegreen.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.
