Writing with Feeling! A guide.

How do you feel when you write? Can your mood impact your writing?

Quite clearly, and as most regular writers would know, the answer to second question is yes.  Feeling bright and chirpy can help the words flow freely. Even feeling a bit low and gloomy can be useful for getting deeper into a scene or a character's experience. Suspense fiction, just like any other fiction, can benefit from characters and scenes that provide the reader with some sort of emotional reaction.

As an individual with your own unique set of life experiences, you can, if you choose, use these to aid your work.

There will be a range of emotions at various stages of your story - why not “dig up” your own similar feelings and get writing!

A word of caution - you just need to visit these past experiences not relive them to the point of personal distress.

Grab the memory you want to use. If you can't think of anything try looking at old photos or talking to friends - see this time of your life in your mind’s eye. Remember the colours. Recall any sounds. Remember any movement. We’re there words spoken? We’re there any tactile sensations? Immerse yourself deeply into the memory. Access those feelings. Now write your story - feel for your character.

Don’t forget to come back to the present and focus on your life now. This is a creative visualisation process. Often useful to change negative feelings into positive ones by accessing pleasurable past experiences. Once again if the past experiences are too traumatic please don’t go there without a plan to extract yourself. Naturally, your writing will have a range of emotional content - it may be very positive and uplifting feelings you are seeking - so go right ahead, do some visualisation and enjoy.

Another option that works for some is the use of music. Choose the piece of music that delivers the feelings you want. Maybe a few sad songs of lost love, or it could be Chariots of Fire for an uplifting experience. For me, this works. I don't have it loud - more just there in the background doing its job.

I’d be interested in your feedback and other strategies you may use.