The common mark up I give myself when editing my work is “more emotion” or “what are they feeling”. Its a valid note. In my writing I lean towards the mechanics of a scene, positioning of characters, light touches, temperature, sound: things I can feel. Yet, not what I feel.

If that makes sense.

My Wife has the opposite ‘problem’, her writing is amazing and filled with engaging prose that drives you forward led by holding onto the sleeve of the protagonist and their emotional journey. But, I sometimes struggle with it because in my mind I can’t place all my pretty pieces neatly in a row, or I’m wondering exactly how tall that character is when he gets into his car – you know, needling.

Particularly now as I’m editing I’m trying to lever myself away from function and more into emotion, trying to leave the great grand battles I’ve written between man and machine alone, and instead try and nudge my reader into the thoughts and feelings of the titular hero or his companions. It’s one of the many ways my Wife has helped my writing improve in the twenty-plus years we’ve been writing together.

And, one of the reasons why I look forward to seeing how much more it’ll develop, as we feedback on each others works.

So, ladies and gentlemen, once more: with feeling!

S

p.s. I’ve just learned that this blog is wired up to email any new post to subscribers – so, feel free to burden yourself with me directly by subscribing! Hugs and kisses.