How Do You Write The Tough Stuff?

On By Amy (A.R.) RiveraIn Reading, Uncategorized, Writing

I’ve been thinking.

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Dangerous, I know.

Nonetheless, I have been pondering the tough stuff. The hard subjects. Angry-Typing

As a writer of fiction, I have found that my work generally does not cover one genre. It usually involves romance and suspense, there’s almost always family dynamics involved in my plots, and not always the ‘happily ever after‘–and with all of that comes the problems. Personal and social issues: depression, bullying, cutting, eating disorders, self-esteem issues, marriage, divorce, etc.

You get it. They’re the real kind of problems that can be tough to say out loud. And when I am writing these potentially controversial moments, I often find myself wondering how readers will perceive my characters; whether they will reject or understand them.

It can be a worrying thing.

I write to be read. I want people to like what I make and to see that I pour my heart into every character. Even the unlikeable ones. Because I am one of those people that believes we are all unlikeable in one form or fashion, just as we are all loveable, as well. I tend to write from inside the problem; try to show the reader who this character is and why they are making the disagreeable decision.

I am also wondering, all you writers out there, how do you navigate through the tough areas in your manuscripts? Do you feel the need to explain your characters motives or do you simply tell it? And as readers, do you want to keep reading if you don’t like or agree with the choices a character is making?

6 thoughts on “How Do You Write The Tough Stuff?”

  1. Margot Kinberg

    You ask an interesting question.. I try not to do too much ‘over-explaining,’ becasue I feel that it can take away from the immediacy of the story – from drawing the reader in. But that said, when it is a very difficult thing, I do some explaining, especially if a character does something that seems out of character (even if it’s not).

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    1. Thank you! It’s fun to listen to other writers explain why they do what they do. One of the best things about writing is finding the many many ways to approach a scene.

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  2. I try to show the weakness and flaws in the good guys and try to make the bad guys multi dimensional too. Not always easy but then again that’s what it’s all about. The authors I enjoy make me want to know more about their characters. They lead me into the room and turn on the light. Sometimes it’s ugly and sometimes it’s sad and sometimes it sends that cold chill right up to those little hairs on the back of your neck.

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