Emotion

Today was my local romance writer's meeting, (Yosemite Romance Writers). Tawny Weber was the guest speaker. If you have been following my blog you will already know that she's pretty awesome!!! She talked to us about character emotion. Her talk was good, though I already knew a lot of what she was saying, it reminded me of what is easily forgotten when us writers are trying to get the story out. It also made me realize why I have become so unhappy with my WIP (work in progress).

As you all know, I have challenged a few of my friends to the famous Nano write, where you write a complete book in 30 days. Or up to fifty thousand words. As I stated in my last post, I was doing well the first week in a half. Even managed 20k. When I returned to my WIP after taking a couple of family days, I realized what I had was a bunch of words... 20 thousand to be exact. But none of them really meant anything to me. Probably wouldn't to any of you either if you read them. It was lacking something. Something I just couldn't put my finger on, until today. There's no emotion. None. Not even a little.

For me writing is very emotional. It comes from the heart and deep within my soul. It may take me months to perfect a chapter. Okay... quit laughing those of you who know my writing process. So it may take a little longer. Maybe even five years!! Today I realized that, that's okay. That's me. That's my writing process. I am a control freak... a perfectionist by nature, though I've been working on that a little over the years, and I'm getting better at letting go. Sometimes letting go of the craziness, means letting go of that oh so important emotion. And if I want to be a writer, that is proud of what she has written, that just can't happen any more.

Emotion is something that every one of us craves. It's what makes us feel good or sometimes bad. It's the very reason we grab for that love story and can't put it down. Or stand in line for hours for a movie that we know will make us laugh, even cry. The same goes for music. How many of you just can't get enough of that favorite song? We all long for the way it will make us feel. Happy, sad or otherwise.

So from now on my friends, I vow to write with emotion. Every word, every sentence, paragraph, chapter. No matter how long it takes me (although I do admit, I need to work on the speed maybe just a little (wink)). No more speed writing just to get the words pumped out.

Like the country singer, Terry Clark sings... I'M AN EMOTIONAL GIRL! So bring on the emotion!

Make sure to check back on Tuesday, March 23 for my interview with, New York Times Best Seller, Cheryl Holt. I am very excited to share our interview with all of you!!!

Until next time...

xoxoxoxoxo

Micole Black