Writing - Empathising

Making progress writing can sometimes hit the  buffers. It may be because you're tired, or you've run out of ideas,  or your story has taken an unexpected turn that has jumped outside your experience. It may be called writer's block. Too negative a term for me that suggests no solution. 

 There are several reasons why writers experience difficulties in moving stories forward. If you are choosing to write about something with which you have no experience, even research will not bring the emotion you need to invest in a story. This may be one cause, and what I'm suggesting today is a strategy that could help in this area, but it would also enhance the quality of the relationships and incidents in your tales. 

What this strategy involves is empathising. If we are to make the most of our story writing, then we must live the story. (Sounds a bit extreme) I am a firm believer in writing from whence we come. In developing a story, you want characters to take part in a specific activity, then, as the writer, you should put yourself in the shoes of the characters to experience the emotions those characters are going through. This will allow a fuller understanding of the situation and engage the reader emotionally. You only get out what you put in! 

It is in these situations that I have experienced the phenomenon of the characters writing the story. I have heard of other even famous writers agreeing with this idea. Participating in empathizing increases the enjoyment I get from the writing process. 

God Bless