Funnelling Your Feelings into Your Writing

 

Okay, fellow writers, I know you know what I'm talking about. You're minding your own business, working away on your next brilliant work of literary art and--BAM--life happens. An event stirs up anger or sadness or frustration. Now you're distracted and can't keep up with the flow of your story. I had this happen recently with an event that stirred up a rage in me the likes of which I've not experienced for a while. (I can say now it was an overreaction, but this election has me on my last nerve.) The fact that this occurred on a Friday when I had no access to address the situation until Monday only added to my furor and frustration. When I sat to continue writing my current story, my mind was consumed by the seeming injustice of my situation and my inability to resolve it immediately. So I became even more frustrated that I couldn't write the scene I'd been working on.

Once I cooled down enough to think somewhat clearly, I realized I had a scene to write for my characters that required rage and anger for one of the characters. I moved ahead to writing that scene that I knew was coming up, and I infused all the anger and frustration I was feeling into my character and wrote it out. Not only did it help to diffuse my own rage somewhat, it gave my character a depth to her anger that made it more believable.

Writing devoid of true emotion falls flat, and it can be a challenge to summon up deep emotions if we're just not feeling it. It's our job to do so, of course. But I'm suggesting we not waste the emotions we find ovewhelming us at times when they can be used productively. This isn't limited to anger, frustration, or sadness. You might have a character who is overjoyed by something, ecstatic, or just plain happy.

We've all heard the recommendation: write what you know. Well, trust me, this past Friday I KNEW rage and frustration. And my character benefitted from my situation. I benefitted from pouring out some of those emotions, and I was able to make my character's reactions more realistic.

Am I suggesting this as a simple form of therapy for writers? No. Some situations aren't that easily resolved. I'm not intending to downplay the depth of our emotions. I'm suggesting that, if you can and as those emotions consume you, if only for a short time, use them.

People often ask at panel discussions or book signings, "How much of you is in your characters?" I personally believe a lot of me is in my characters because I have, in a way, given birth to them. Using my world view and emotional responses can be a part of that, too.

Write true, and write deep.

                                Linda

Coming Soon--My 50th Book!

It's starting to get real now. My 50th book is finished and will be released on August 7. No accident that that is also my birthday. It was twenty years ago on August 7 that I got an email offering me my first publishing contract. It seems only fitting to release my 50th book at that time, too. I have two launches coming up for A Well-Imagined Life. The first is at a private birthday/launch party on August 10. The hard launch is in Brownsville, PA--my hometown--on August 17 at the Peter J. Daley Cultural Center and sponsored by the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts.

If you're in the Brownsville area, please stop by and say hello. Get a book signed while you're at it.

 

Readers Make Writers

 

We writers are nothing without readers. That's a fact. It's not only about book sales. Readers need to know that we thrive on more than sales. We thrive on reviews, on the social media comments you leave about our work, and on those emails readers sometimes take the time to write to us. I love hearing from a reader who has been touched by one of my books and who takes the time to tell me about their experience. That kind of feedback is fuel to us writers. It gives us energy and purpose and motivation to keep going.

I had one book--Unconditional--blow my sales numbers out of the water over the last two months. It's not a new book by any means. I've not been actively promoting the book. I don't know who started the fire that sent the sales of Unconditional climbing. I do know that a few people left ratings and reviews on Amazon. Those meant the world to me, to know that my book touched your hearts

So, readers, please don't ever think you're not important to us writers, that your comments and feedback and encouragement isn't important to us. It's ofthen the very thing that keeps us going to write the next book.

As for myself, I thank all my readers and fans. You make my world brighter and keep me going.

Linda

Writing for Women? What about the guys?

 

I recently invested a few dollars to purchase this banner for my upcoming book events. In designing the banner, I weighed out using the Writing for Women logo I've used for years.

When I first started publishing, I needed a tag line for my work, something to make it easily identifiable. One TV network that was popular at the time was Lifetime-Television for Women. I started out writing women's fiction, and so adopted the phrase:  Writing for Women.  As I broadened my writing into other genres and sub-genres, I discovered my books have one thing in common--they are stories of strength, love, humor, and/or hope. It doesn't matter if it's women's fiction, romance, mystery/suspense, or paranormal. The one thing that is always important to me is that my stories are positive and offer a happy ending.

I always enjoy stories that present engaging characters that draw me into their stories. And, so, I strive to create characters who do the same--characters that are real, that struggle, that overcome, and that embrace life with joy and hope.

My stories are not literary fiction so much as commercial fiction across a variety of genres. They're intended to entertain, to comfort, to encourage, and to make the reader smile. If they give you something to think about, that's a good thing too.

Now, I've been asked about my Writing for Women logo. Does that mean my writing rules out male readers? Not at all. I've written a few suspense novels that would appeal to most men. But I try not to sell men short. I think a man could easily identify with my heros and enjoy their stories. I was asked once at a booksigning, "You say your books are written for women, so I should just give one to my wife?" To which I replied, "Women will relate to and enjoy my books. But that doesn't mean a man can't learn something useful from them." He bought the book, promising to read it first.

This year, in a few months actually, I will produce my 50th novel. I'm proud of the books and stories I've written. I say that with all honesty and without arrogance. I know my writing is not perfect. No one's is. I admit to sometimes feeling like a well-kept secret in the literary world.

I very much look forward to rolling out A Well-Imagined Life, my fiftieth novel, in early August. The date coincides with my 75th birthday. I shudder at that number and cannot wrap my head around it. But it is what it is.

I hope you will help me celebrate these twenty-two years of writing and read one or two or forty of my books. And, yes guys, there will be something there for you, too.

AMAZON.COM

To all of my faithful readers, I thank you so much. You make it all worthwhile.

We're All in This Together

 

So I had an idea--why not call together a group of romance authors and then offer a panel discussion and book signing event to local libraries? I don't know a lot of authors in the Pittsburgh area yet, so I put out a general call through Pennwriters to see if anyone would be interested. Bam--I had seven more authors to round out the eight-author panel.

Now that I had eight interested authors, what might we do? I sent out queries to a half dozen local libraries. The first to respond was the Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, PA. It's a beautiful space with a wonderfully warm and friendly staff of people.

(I'm way down at the end, next to last.)

We had a packed house of 60+ folks for the panel discussion. And these authors did not fail to entertain and enlighten. What struck me most--and I only knew two of these folks prior to the event--was the way these authors, all of us, respected and supported one another. At the end of the panel discussion, the authors went into the lobby to their tables to sell and sign books. But throughout this event, every author was generous and kind and supportive of the other authors present.

I overhead a patron tell Sydney Krawiec, Program and Outreach Coordinator, that she'd attended many author panels and that this was by far her best experience. I was stunned when Sydney said her comment meant a lot because this was the first author panel she'd moderated there. You could have fooled me.

I so appreciate how the library stepped up to support us local authors. I was impressed by the way the authors were gracious and attentive to one another--supportive rather than competitive. These events are so much fun when everyone is in this together.

What Can You Do?

I went out to shovel the walkway and driveway. That part is our responsibility. While I'm working at the top of the driveway, a man comes down the hill with a shovel, says not a word, and sets to work clearing the lower part. Finally, I say thank you and ask if he lives across the street. I don't know all of our neighbors very well. No, he lives up a few units and, I realize, is the same man--whose name I learn is Ron--who helped Sue Ann with the trash cans one day. He could only work for a few minutes because of an online meeting, but did what he could. I continue to shovel and our neighbor, Peter, comes over to help. He'd done his driveway earlier.

This got me to thinking. Often we see an issue that needs to be resolved or a person who needs help and, perhaps, we think, "No point in getting involved because I can't solve the problem." But often we can do something to alleviate the problem. I saw someone in my area on Nextdoor asking about where they might be able to get food for their family. People gave several suggestions of Food Pantries (most of which are probably closed today because of the weather.) I can't stock a family pantry, but I have enough food here for a meal or two, so I told them to contact me if they still need food. Our freezer is full, and we could manage for weeks probably, several days at least. I don't want to see a need and turn away because I can't meet the need completely. I'd like to be the person to offer to do what I can. If enough of us do what we can, the problem can be solved.

Another Year, Another Wish for Peace

It's the first day of a new year. Snowflakes are drifting down to whiten the grass and coat tree limbs and the top of the fence. It's almost noon, and I'm still in my pjs. No planes have zoomed over in the hour I've been here. It's quiet. Peaceful. So much so, it's hard to believe that outside the house, in other places out in the world, wars are raging and people are dying--for what? Power? Hatred? Refusal to accept one another? I think those in power all need to come and sit with me in this quiet space. Watch the few snowflakes falling. Listen to the sound of peace and quiet. Breathe it in. Let your soul feel what peace can be like.

Wishing you peace in the coming year.

                                                                     Linda