How emotionally involved are you in writing some scenes is the question posed for this month’s round robin.
Well, it’s a biggie. I think the emotion I personally find hardest to deal with is disappointment. I’m writing this on the 24th June 2016, so many in the UK will know disappointment this morning and throughout the whole day.
I’ve just had a peek at Facebook and astonishing stuff is coming through. People who voted ‘Leave’ (the European Union) because they didn’t think their vote would count so it wouldn’t matter (Eh?). People who believed Eurocrats made the laws – where were they when the rest of us were voting for our MEPs?
However, we’re talking writing here and as I write romance with lots of ups, downs and round-abouts, there’s enough emotion to find a few heart-wringing moments to tempt you.
London Girl
Mariah’s Marriage is shot through with disappointment. Sir Lucas is disappointed he could not snare the Earl for his sister. Lady Mellon is disappointed she cannot secure a suitable wife for the heir. Mariah is bitterly disappointed she cannot continue her life teaching because the earl has trapped her in a compromising situation. I really felt that tug between what one wanted to do and what one must do.
And I hugely enjoyed the resolution which I was able to write with, I hope, laugh-out loud farce.
Bella’s Betrothal charts the resolution of disappointment because Bella feels abandoned, if not even cast off, by her family. I really invested in the scenes early in the book when she tries to defend herself against the pragmatic arguments and physical attractiveness of Charles Lyndsay. Well, how do you choose the lesser danger of a bogeyman out there and a heart-stoppingly attractive man in your room at the inn?
Daisy’s Dilemma springs out of disappointment and it’s all the more poignant because Daisy doesn’t see it coming. Actually, as the creator, neither did I. Reuben Longreach’s voice caught me a little by surprise, but I soon grew to love him dearly and I wrote one or two of his scenes entirely wrapped up in him.
I refer a lot throughout this book to The Foundling Hospital where mothers could leave the babies and small children they were unable to keep. Some were never re-united. Today in Camden, within walking distance of King’s Cross, you can visit the Foundling Museum which sits in some of the original buildings and in Coram’s Fields. The display case exhibited there of the tokens – sometimes a button or scrap of a shawl – by which mothers hoped to identify their baby should life improve and they could reclaim them, is deeply moving. So, yes, I was emotionally very involved in writing much of this book.
Thomas Coram
So if you fancy learning how other authors go about it, try one of my friends, below:
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Anne Stenhouse https://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
Heather Haven http://heatherhavenstories.com/blog/
Victoria Chatham http://victoriachatham.blogspot.ca
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Rachael Kosinski http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Margaret Fieland http://margaretfieland.wordpress.com
Connie Vines http://connievines.blogspot.com/
Bob Rich https://bobrich18.wordpress.com/2016/06/25/emotion-in-writing
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com
Novels Now 
You have an interesting take on the topic. Disappointment is hard, I think, for everyone to deal with. It’s intriguing your stories all deal with it, but I agree with your wrapping yourself in the character to deal with their emotions and actions.
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Hi Rhobim, thanks for dropping by. there are many ther emotions in all the stories – I just thought I’d look at that one. Yesterday was a big day here and the reverberations sound on. Anne
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A good and thoughtful post. Disappointment is a difficult emotion to deal with, often because there is no way to cope with it like sadness, anger, elation etc.
As for the recent vote re: EU stay or leave, I think only time will tell whether it will be to Britain’s advantage. As an American I was aggravated with my own president,, however, for sticking his oar in and threatening Great Britain if they didn’t vote his way. Please believe there are American’s who want the best for Britain, but don’t think we have any business telling you how to order your own affairs and considering how long we have been allies, it’s beyond just unacceptable to make such threats.
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Thanks, Skye, for your thoughtful comments. Yes, the fall-out continues and will do for a longish time. It is good to have continuing allies whatever happens. anne
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Yesterday was a difficult day. I’m sorry.
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Hi Marci, thank you, Anne
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Hi Anne, I really enjoyed your post. Interesting about the common theme to your stories, and I loved how you related it to the referendum.
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Thanks, Helena. Your Facebook picture was equally telling and a lot more cheerful. I bought a couple of croissants for our picnic lunch yesterday. Anne
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Daisy’s Dilemma sounds so interesting! And heartbreaking. I liked how you showcased emotion in a variety of your books. I also wasn’t very pleased with the “Brexit.” A lot of my friends live within the United Kingdom and expressed nerves about it. Goodness–I live in New York and only spent 3 months in England last semester and I felt nervous about the decision!
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Hi Rachael, thanks for dropping in and also for your kind words. Yes, we’re in a lot of turmoil at present. All sorts of dilemmas – not just matters of the heart. Anne
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The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi is a helpful craft book. However, when I want to draw on emotion I try acting it out and then making notes. Somehow it comes together. I can only hope that my readers feel what I feel. As for Brexit, only time will tell if it was a good move or not.
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Hi Victoria, I haven’t come across that thesaurus, so must look it up. I’m a hopeless actor. Anne
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