Monday, November 15, 2010

Emotions

Yes, I do have them.

Occasionally.

I think I even cried once about five months ago.

Which means I'm good for another seven months, if I follow my once a year crying holiday rule.

But I was definitely clenched teeth, peel your fingers off of whatever is gripped in your clutches angry last night.

My son and I were walking Beemer, our Yorkie, who was quite content sniffing and peeing his way through the neighborhood, when an unleashed German shephard raced out of nowhere and attacked.

After multiple kicks I got the brute off my dog, only to have the German shephard go after my son. And then me. When the owner finally showed up, several bites and a side full of scratches on my Yorkie later, there were still many more minutes of me kicking and snarling to get it off of me and my dog.

I was so ticked I went straight into my house. Washed up the dog wounds. Called the police. And then took my dog back outside so he wouldn't be scared all night.

All in the attempt to calm myself as much as anything.

I didn't sigh...or stare off into space...or think...or wander aimlessly...like many characters are apt to do when you first start writing. I took action to fix the problem.

And that's how you write emotions in your books.

Emotions are the response of characters to the action, the plot, of your story. Newton had it right: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. I live by that rule in my stories.

I'm not saying my characters never sigh...or stare off into space...or think...or wander aimlessly, but I only let them do it in limited quantities because it makes them cry.

And that's only saved for once a year special occasions.

7 comments:

  1. I'm glad you're okay! I hate it when owners let their dogs run around like that. It's so irresponsible, especially if they attack people.

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  2. Yes, it does make them cry, and crying is a reaction. Good philosophy.

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  3. If your characters didn't act on their emotions, you'd have a really boring book.

    Nasty dog. I hope the police did something.

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  4. Holy crap. This just reaffirms my irrational fears of dogs. Glad you're semi-okay!

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  5. It was the owner, more than the out-of-control, German Shepherd was the true criminal there. Sigh. We must be responsible with those we love, even our animals.

    You're right and Mark Twain agreed with you : real people feel the fear and act as they're feeling it. Some run. Some fight. Some cry. But they all DO something. Have a great Thanksgiving. Roland

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  6. Good blog!

    My pets are my kids and I keep them on a tight, well-trained leash and it sickens me when people don't care enough for something to take care of it, both in pleasure and discipline. And that goes for those little humans people have too.

    But at least you learned something about yourself and your writing out of it. Was your pup okay?

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  7. Thanks for the well wishes. Beemer is ok. He had many scratches, some punctures, and was very sore...but doggy painkillers for four days got him back to jumping in the van. He's definitely a little more neurotic around large dogs now...but better every day:)

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