Blah…sorry friend, but that is weak. I know you can do better than that. Let’s learn some techniques together.
Let’s get ready for the learnin’ stuff. First, coffee. Dump out that cold sludge at the bottom of your cuppa and join me in the breakroom for a free fill and some nibbles. I have a bag of caramel popcorn I’m willing to share.
There is also a box of granola bars, baskets of fruits, and sad cucumbers in the fridge –I like mine cold. Pick what you want. Second, go grab that dusty, buried copy of Creating Character Emotions by Ann Hood and meet us out on the reading rug. Let’s get to it! Whoop!
Means: strong, persistent desire or craving, especially for something unattainable or distant
Now, how do we write this?
This is a feeling of uncontrollable sadness and need for a person/thing/happier time that is far out of reach. It can be described as mourning. As in the loss of your “heart’s desire.” This is a more intense feeling than that of an unrequited love. This is the loss of something you once had in your life. An unrequited love is still there. Still a possibility.
Per this chapter, desire is often linked with a person, whereas longing is linked to time. It is an ache for what was. An old relationship, a moment of happiness, even a place that made you feel safe and cared for. It is a place, person, and time you can never go back to. This is longing. Why does this hurt so much? Because there is no hope in ever feeling that way again.
When you place your fingers on the keys or grab a pen, maybe avoid the hope of getting a moment back and move forward with the mourning of its loss. Sadly, we have all lost something/someone very dear to us. Describe the ache you felt. The physical pain that forced you to curl in a ball and weep. This is the moment you want nothing more than to hide from the world. You pull the covers over your head to eclipse the sun. You find solace in dark skies and rain because they understand your loss and cry with you.
You know that feeling. Sit in it. Stew in the memories and then cry on the page. I know it’s a lot to ask but that’s how you write emotions. You pull them from your own experiences. That’s how they feel real. As you revisit your pain remember that not all longings were good for you. You may long for a lost love but was that love good for you or was it exciting. Are you longing for the fun, the joyous feeling of being free?
Ready for some homework? Too bad!
Homework:
- Write a scene where the character longs for something surprising.
- Example: a truant kid longing for school or an old woman longing for a baby
- Pick one and write the scene:
- A character longing for a happier time in their relationship.
- A character longing for a time when they didn’t drink.
- What do you long for at this moment? Write about it with all the emotions connected to it.
- What is a time or person you find yourself longing for often? Write it and do your best to evoke the essence of the time or person. Throw in the triggers that bring them to mind. Music triggers me. A song has the ability to pull me back in time to remind me of what was going on in my life waaaaaay back then.
Until next time and a new emotion…
Polish your sparkle and keep twirling.
Find joy. Be joy. Enjoy.
I’m always looking for new friends!
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