Welcome to the 2013 A to Z Challenge!
This year, I’m
focusing on two themes: Emotions and
grammar,
depending on which
letter we’re on each day.
I’ll be sharing
mostly what I’ve learned about writing emotion into a novel, but I’ll also be
throwing in a few key grammar lessons, pet peeves I’ve picked up while working
as an editor.
Today’s an emotion
day.
__________
L is for Loneliness: affected with, characterized by, or causing a
depressing feeling of being alone; destitute of sympathetic or friendly
companionship; isolated.
I had to write about this emotion a great deal in my own
novel, The
Mistaken. The main character’s wife
dies and he feels responsible. Immediately
after, he isolates himself, even when there are many people around him, his
friends, his family. No one can take the
place of the one he loved most. A lot of
the time, that’s how loneliness works. I
wrote a short passage at the end that deals with this feeling:
“It
was disconcerting to be among all that was so familiar yet feel that the heart
that beat within my chest was not actually my own. I was lost, like a child separated from a parent
in a large crowd. Not alone, yet
quintessentially lonely.”
And in the middle of the book, when the sight of another
woman makes him miss the one he’s lost:
“I
spent more than a small amount of time propped up against the wall, watching
her, studying her face, so beautiful, so peaceful in sleep. I knew I shouldn’t be watching her without
her knowledge, but I missed having that kind of beauty near me. Having it so close, yet knowing it was not
mine, was a bitter pill, but I felt as if I’d been pulled back through time,
back to when Jillian was still alive. I
was unbearably lonely, and, at that moment, Hannah filled me in ways Jillian
once had. It was difficult to turn away
from something as alluring as that.”
This shows how loneliness is not about solitude, but rather
about isolation, feeling separate, emotionally divided from the whole. A character can be in a room full of his
friends and family while they festively celebrate a momentous occasion, a birthday,
a wedding, yet even among all these people, who likely love and care for him,
as the very symbols of happiness swirl around him, he feels the most
lonely.
16 comments:
Good points. I think using contrast (like being in a public place or around others) is a better way to show something that can be quite uninteresting if you tackle it head on by showing someone alone.
mood
Moody Writing
Sometimes the character can be lonely without realizing that's what he really feels. He doesn't fully grasp there is a void until something starts to fill it.
I know you're not lonely right now! You and Jennifer are going to get into all sorts of trouble this weekend.
I think I understand what your character felt. Today I wrote a post about a person who left such void in my life. And although I do have friends and family and not alone, sometimes I do feel lonely and I reflect it in my main characters. Not all the time, of course.
Father Dragon Writes
Lonliness is such a catalyst emotion with characters. It can be the huge conflict and great motivator for change. Great example, Nancy.
Emotions are a powerful way to define a character and help drive conflict. Cool theme this year! And I have a new blog. Hope to see you stop by and say hello!
Loneliness is a tough emotion for the person to grasp who is actually dealing with it. I am not entirely certain that everyone processes it the same way. I think that the way that you chose to have this character see the glimpses of his own loneliness and recognize it for what it was... inspired!
Oh yes, you brutalize your character like a sadist in "The Mistaken." I kept thinking "Nancy is so cruel. How could she?"
Nice description. It is a bitter pill. Very cool.
This is some great advice for showing emotion in writing. Your poor character sounds lonely indeed. I'm going to have to remember this in my writing.
I thought the scene where he remembers and longs for his wife was very poignant.
Very emotive passages you've written. A great way to show rather than tell. I have trouble with that. Thanks for the lesson, Nancy :)
I'm pretty sure they make a replica edition of Eowyn's sword, but thinkgeek doesn't have it anymore.
Nicely done!
I love what you shared~
Hope you have a fab weekend :D
Nice post, Nancy. You used this emotion well in your book...and I remember those two passages.
Chuck at Apocalypse Now
Terrific passages - and an equally terrific post!
Thanks Nancy. Good illustration of your point. God bless, Maria from Yes he does. And yes it is great that I can be a part of it. God bless, Maria
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