Writer's Aid discussion

Lately my writing has been flat. I'm using the same tricks and it is reading like sludge. So every once in a while I take time to learn about writing. It helps my inspiration and motivation. Sometimes I am enlightened and sometimes it's a refresher.

Today I learned that characters need to speak based on their emotional state. It sounds basic, but applying it can put spark back into flat characters.

What do you think? Does anyone have any examples?

Well it depends on what emotional state. If you give me something to work with I can turn it into an example for you.

An lonely, misbehaved kiddo that wants the attention of her beloved principal.

Does it matter on a name?

not at all. You can also choose your own character. How have you used a character's emotional state?

Well I'm only like 15 and I love to write. Mine is my life put into my characters. Depending on my mood I wrote down my characters actions and emotional conversation on different sections of paper. I'll give you an example with your option you gave me.


Lonely. That's all I ever am. No attention,no love, no nothing. I've never felt so out of place before. People look at me like I'm a freak or I'm some kind of infection to them. I just eat some kind of attention. Take my principal for example. Last week I was in his off discussing a matter that I had caused. Please caused?

"Clair what is going on. You've never been like this before. I'm worried." He made himself sound worried. But it's all a lie. All for it. An act!

"Mr. Yu. Have you ever felt so out of place. So alone? I'm guessing not. Now let me tell you. If feels like the world is caving in on me. It feels like I shouldn't even have been introduced to this society. It feels like someone is holding a giant thick pillow over my face when I'm here. I just want someone to notice me. But you'd never know what it's like. You're to caught up in life to even notice that a student at your school hates her life so much people leave her alone."




It's not good but I tried. There are many ways it could go.

You have a wonderful voice! Great style. You also have a great knack for saying only what is important. I just learned a few things from you. Bravo!

Thanks. Writing is my passion.

My characters are all emotion driven and I find it fun and sometime challenging to show those emotions. People are emotional, even those who don't (or won't) show/express them. Emotions for a person can differ depending on what they're reacting to, whether people or situations. I love dealing with my character's emotional states. It can give real insight into how people "tick." An example from my books -

Cuinn is serious, responsible, a traditionalist, in many ways inflexible and he has a quick temper which he keeps under tight control (it sneaks out now and then). When thrust in the role of leader by the sudden death of his father, he pretty much doubles down on his emotional control.

Ruul is driven by fear. He descends from a long line of legends and is afraid he won't/can't measure up. He copes with his fear by drinking to excess (he's an alcoholic), beds just about anything with a skirt if he can, is irresponsible and lets his temper have free rein. When thrust into the role of leadership by the sudden death of his father, he also doubles down on all the above mentioned traits - until he's forced to confront and deal with them.

So there we have two men, close in age and relationship (they're cousins) who deal with a similar situation (suddenly thrust into a leadership role) in very different ways.

Sandaidh wrote: "My characters are all emotion driven and I find it fun and sometime challenging to show those emotions. People are emotional, even those who don't (or won't) show/express them. Emotions for a perso..."

so we have one guy who walks a straight line unless provoked and the guy zigzags in life and doesn't care who he hurts. How do they interact with one another? Are they friends or foes? How does their emotions impact one another.

They sound interesting. You inspired me to talk about emotional back story.

Sandaidh helped me get to this next thread.

As writers we have to think about how are characters act, but more importantly why they act a certain way. We have to develop the back story. Sometimes the back story isn't part of the prose, but shows up in everything the character does or says.

Sandaidh, I am interested to know about the fathers who passed away. How did they treat their sons? What was the emotional impact from their relationships? Were there any key moments in your characters' childhood that made them who they are today?

I thought it would be fun to list all the emotions. Then work off the list to figure out ways to incorporate them into our writing.

loneliness, confusion, frustration, passion, sadness, grief, curiosity, hope, anger, fear, manic, tenderness

There are so many more. Please help add to the list.

☾~℉ꅤꇩꋪꋬꅤ~☾ wrote: "Thanks. Writing is my passion."

I've been thinking about your writing from above. I am really impressed on how you wrote that so quickly and with such characterization. I sometimes think and rethink paragraphs that I lose the characterization. You reminded me to just write, get it out there on paper, write quickly and from the heart. I don't do this enough. Thank you.

E.C. wrote: "Sandaidh wrote: "My characters are all emotion driven and I find it fun and sometime challenging to show those emotions. People are emotional, even those who don't (or won't) show/express them. Emo..."

In the beginning, they can't stand each other and get into a fistfight. After a major event, and Ruul getting a dressing down from his father. Ruul and Cuinn...tolerate each other. More major events and they end up respecting one another although they're not friends. Throw in even more emotions - Ruul's daughter marries Cuinn's son.

E.C. wrote: "Sandaidh helped me get to this next thread.

Sandaidh, I am interested to know about the fathers who passed away. How did they treat their sons? What was the emotional impact from their relationships? Were there any key moments in your characters' childhood that made them who they are today?
..."

Their fathers were very close. Each loved their son. Cuinn was his father's heir and raised to know and understand the duties and responsibilities of being the leader of his people, something he took very seriously. Ruul, although loved deeply by his father, is afraid of those duties and responsibilities. He's afraid he won't/can't measure up. Consequently, when a first test of those duties is at hand, he strikes out in anger. Perhaps his father indulged him a bit too much when he shouldn't have and yet coming down hard could easily push Ruul even further. Anyone who's had a rebellious adolescent knows it's often walking a fine like between too much and not enough discipline. So much depends on the child who often doesn't know him/her self. Ruul is the more immature of the two men, although he does finally shape up. We also find out later that Ruul was jealous of his father's relationship with Cuinn's father and people.

Most of those key moments happened when they were young adults and he deaths of their fathers has some to do with it. Cuinn was 22 when his father was murdered. Ruul was 19 at that time. A little less than a year later Ruul's father died from injuries sustained from an attack by a wild boar. After that, they essentially had nothing to do with each other until Ruul's daughter turned 19 and some very major events turned the world upside down for everyone.

Sandaidh wrote: "E.C. wrote: "Sandaidh helped me get to this next thread.

Sandaidh, I am interested to know about the fathers who passed away. How did they treat their sons? What was the emotional impact from the..."

It sounds like you have a lot of backstory. Are they both wanting to rule at the same time? How does that turn out?

Yeah, there's a lot of backstory to the story - six generations worth. Although related, they belong to two disparate races which are being brought together through an ancient prophecy. Cuinn is Le'ir (leader) of the Forest People. Ruul is King of the City. The entire four book series is the struggle/journey to unite these two peoples. Cuinn and Ruul are integral parts of fulfilling this prophecy.

Spoiler - Their grandson Taran is the fulfillment, but even his story doesn't end there. In the sequel Taran is vital to the defeat of a threat to their entire world.