This week, Alida and Kathryn continue our conversation with Carlee Tressel Alson about taking emotional risks in writing. It’s about more than how you feel while writing. There is a relationship formed between the author and the reader when a text is shared. What does it mean to tell the truth in writing fiction, as well as creative nonfiction? What do we do when others can’t separate the author from the work? How can we be responsible to both the truth and the people we’re putting on the page – even if the character is only a fictional version of someone we know? When writing becomes emotionally difficult, what can we do to take care of ourselves and get the story on the page?
Part 2 of 2.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
In part two of our conversation about taking emotional risks, we talk about what the “truth” is in our writing. How do we get to the emotional truth? And how do we take care of ourselves when we do get there? We also discuss the difference between the value of your experience, and the way that we can convey that to readers. Plus we have a special bonus segment specific to Creative Non-Fiction writers!
If you haven’t listened to our first episode on taking emotional risks with Dain Edward check it out here!
And if you haven’t listened to the first part of this conversation with Carlee check it out here!
And make sure to check out some of Carlee’s work:
The Farmer and I: In the Middle of it all
The Farmer and I: A Rookie’s Field Guide to Farm Speak
What we talked about:
You are opening a conversation with the larger public. (0:50)
What does it mean to tell the truth in our writing? What does it mean to “get there”? (3:04)
What is the difference between the narrator and the author? (8:10)
The value of what you went through and the value of the reader’s experience are different. (13:20)
What if “going there” is traumatic? How do you take care of yourself? (14:10)
Taking emotional risks is important in any genre! Be brave! (21:58)
Bonus! Carlee discussing risk taking in Creative Non-Fiction. (23:06)
LINKS
Things we mentioned:
The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch
On Bridging the Distance Between Therapist and Theorist by Barrie Jean Borich
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRT 084: Taking Emotional Risks in your Fiction
SWRT 090: Writing Otherness