 For Authors: June 25, 2008 Issue [#2468] |
  For Authors
This week: Edited by: Cubby  
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Hello, everyone! Welcome to this edition of the For Authors newsletter.  First off, I'd like to share a few quotes with you that are related to this week's topic, emotional experiences. Enjoy!
Quotes:
*
Painful as it may be, a significant emotional event
can be the catalyst for choosing a direction that serves us
- and those around us -
more effectively.
Look for the learning.
~ Louisa May Alcott
*
I get to actually experience what it would be like to be a psycho, which is not a fun one,
or to be a cowboy, or to be a weird character of some sort.
For me, it suits me. It suits my personality.
I'm an emotional kind of person anyway.
~ Josh Holloway
*
I've had it with you and your emotional constipation!
~ Washington Irving
*
Our emotional symptoms are precious sources
of life and individuality.
~ Thomas More
*
Make them laugh, make them cry, and hack to laughter.
What do people go to the theatre for?
An emotional exercise.
I am a servant of the people. I have never forgotten that.
~ Mary Pickford
*
In my subconscious,
my books were part of a single emotional journey.
~ Jeanette Winterson |
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Definitions [cited from Dictionary.com]
 emotional - [adj.]
1. Readily affected with or stirred by emotion
2. Arousing or intended to arouse the emotions
3. Marked by or exhibiting emotion
experience - [noun]
1. a particular instance of personally encountering or undergoing something
2. the process or fact of personally observing, encountering, or undergoing something
3. the observing, encountering, or undergoing of things generally as they occur in the course of time
4. knowledge or practical wisdom gained from what one has observed, encountered, or undergone
5. the totality of the cognitions given by perception; all that is perceived, understood, and remembered.
~*~ Using Emotional Experiences ~*~
I think it's pretty safe to say we all feel emotions: happiness, grief, anger, frustration, fear, and the list goes on. Writing down these feelings can be theraputic. Journals, blogs, letters to the editor, etc., are great ways to express yourself.
But this newsletter is not about healing, it's about using your emotions, redirecting them into fiction and/or articles. Using emotions you have experienced in the past is better than researching emotions, in my opinion. You know first-hand how you felt, and what better resource is there than a real life situation?
We, as writers, have been reminded in one way or another, to use our experiences. I've always considered this advice to mean experiences like hobbies, activities, parenting, travel, and so on. But we should not forget about our emotions either. This is where journaling comes in handy. I've got about a dozen or so diaries upstairs in a closet, most written from my younger years when the kids were small. I've got entries about the first man walking on the moon, junior and high school crushes (among other experiences at that time  ), birthdays of my children, and so many, many other topics. These little journals are priceless. They contain first-hand experiences shared from my soul.
Just to warn you ahead of time, using emotions from your past can be painful. Digging up previous emotional experiences may trigger buried feelings long forgotten. My mother died when I was eight years old of a brain tumor, October 31, 1964. This was a very difficult time for me. When I turned 29, one year older than she was when she passed away, I began having panic attacks which lasted three horribly long years. When I write fiction stories that include someone dying, I get very emotional and usually end up in a good cry. But when I read these stories out loud, though I'm still emotional, I know my words will touch others in a similar way because they are written from using my own emotional experiences. Be wary, though. If you think bringing up past feelings will put you into a depression, you may want to steer clear of using your emotional experiences to write with.
A few interesting books to consider checking out:
 Writing for Emotional Impact: Advanced Dramatic Techniques to Attract, Engage, and Fascinate the Reader from Beginning to End by Karl Iglesias
Writing For Emotional Balance: A Guided Journal To Help You Manage Overwhelming Emotions by Beth Jacobs
Your Emotional Power:Powerful Techniques to Optimize Your Emotions, Behavior, and Beliefs by Steve Mensing
For additional information, browse the following links:
Emotional Writing Process
http://www.emoclear.com/processes/emowriting.html
The Power of Emotional Writing
http://www.trans4mind.com/counterpoint/narang.shtml
Happy June and...
Keep on Writing!
Cubby ") |
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Feedback
katherine76
A great newsletter this week Cubby
~ Thank you so much! I enjoyed writing it.
Vivian 
Excellent newsletter, Cubby. Adding non-verbal actions to our writing helps to show rather than tell. ~~ Viv
~ Thanks, Viv! Non-verbal communication sometimes tells us more than words. 
bobneH .. aka.. just bob 
Very good point about body language.
In my reviews, I often mention..'a little action' before the words to eliminate the need for dialog tags...
Ahhh. If it's a spade, call it a spade.
They're.. "yuck".. Tag-Lines!
just bob
~ Yes, too many dialog tags can be distracting!
Jane
Body language...what great and useful info! I use body language in my writing as I feel it emphasizes what has been spoken/not spoken. It always shows exactly what a character is feeling, it never lies. My favorite use of body language is... to indicate (show) a variance between what a character says and what that character feels. Thanks so much for the affirmation!
~ You are very welcome. 
Ronis brain tumor is gone!
Another awesome newsletter Cubby and cant wait to read the next one!
~ Thank you! You are so very kind.
StephBee 
Great topic on nonverbal communication. I think it's important to incooperate gestures into a writing because it makes it more personal to the reader.
~ Yes, and definitely gives a character more depth.
NickiD89 
Hey Cubby ~ The topic of non-verbal communication you chose for this newsletter is fascinating and ideas are tumbling out of my head as I type! The timing couldn't be more perfect, as I am sculpting characters for a new novel. You have given me inspiration for additional layers to their personalities which will reveal themselves through their nonverbal communication. I am looking forward to exploring the endless possibilities for show, don't tell descriptives. Thank you, for another insightful and interesting newsletter!
~ To inspire is certainly a goal for me. Your wonderful response truly makes my day!
THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! 
Thanks for this input, especially that "crossing hands across the chest" can mean 'thinking deeply about something being discussed' - I'm often told by those who 'mis'read my body language that I come across as cold, when I'm really the opposite - I'm thinking about what they're telling me! - Sonali
~ It's all so very interesting, isn't it?
Jaye P. Marshall 
This was another excellent newsletter, Cubby. I know that I, personally, always watch others' faces - particularly their eyes - but you've got me wondering how much of that I include in my writing. Will definitely be more aware now. Thanks.
~ You are welcome! Yes, the eyes say a lot, too. I tend to this to people, too. I can usually tell when one of my staff come into work and something is bothering them just by their facial expressions. I probably study people too much, but it's fascinating to do so.
Ette Nom
Thank you, Cubby. Your article on nonverbal communication was very thought provoking and helpful. I have already utilized some of that information.
~ Great! I'm so glad to hear it.
bazilbob
That's a really good point. You could also just people watch and/or be aware of your own body language to work out what certain gestures mean.
~ I love to people watch!  You can learn a lot from doing it.
qaz4
Thanks for this newsletter on body language, I really enjoyed it. I found myself immediately looking up all the links. I think it would be fun to incorporate this more into my writing.
~ You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed!
Ladyoz
Great newsletter - thank you! Thought you might like to see my little piece on dialogue tags
~ Thank you! And I've included your item in Submitted Items this month. Excellent piece!
Quill o' the Owl
Cubby,
I enjoyed your pointers on concise writing. "The Amazing 55 Word Story Contest" is a fun place to practice--the tight word count requires merciless editing!
Thanks for a great newsletter.
~ I've included this piece in Submitted Items. Thank you for reommending a great writing challenge! And what a lovely tribute to Bandit's Mama .
emerin-liseli
Ahh! Redundancy! Concise writing! It's so hard to do when you're the one writing, yet when you review someone else, repetition is so obvious and jarring. Thanks for providing such great examples.
Hugs,
Em
~ Ain't that the truth!!!
 Thank you, everyone, for all the wonderful feedback you send in!
As always...
Have a wonderful week!
AND KEEP ON WRITING!!!
Cubby ") |
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