Today’s blog chain topic is brought to us by Christine. She says:
“I’ve been described as a writer of highly emotional and dark stories. So much so, that some could not read Transcend saying that while it was “beautifully crafted and written”, the story was just too dark. So I ask you…How dark is too dark for your aesthetic And is writing “dark” and “emotional” a bad thing?”
I have received similar comments on PIECES OF US. Some also could not even give the writing a chance because of the topic and emotions in the book. My first novel, INCONVENIENT, while not dark, dealt with a serious topic too (parental alcoholism) and some did not want to read about that or found parts too sad. There were many, however, that liked the funny moments in INC too. Two contrasting opinions, right? Same thing with POU. Some found the ending dark and hopeless and others saw the hope within. So this is the deal with writing. We, authors, write what moves us. We put words on pages and get involved in the lives of our characters. And when we’re done, the words go out to the world. Readers bring their own emotions and lives with them when they read our work. What’s too emotional to some, may be what another craves. I don’t set out to write “dark” or “heavy” books. I get an idea and go with it. BUT, there are topics I will not touch or read about because MY OWN emotional psyche can’t handle it. I have a young son and cannot write any books where little kids get hurt or kidnapped. I will also not read these kinds of books, because TO ME, the topic is too emotional. Before I had my little guy, I found LOVELY BONES beautiful. I will not look at that book again now. The writing is still beautiful but it’s a subject that scares me. Yet, it’s ME not the book. Therefore, it’s a tough question to answer. We all have our thresholds. I don’t think “dark” and “emotional” are bad. As writers, we want people to feel and react and have our books affect people. Whether it’s too much, is the reader’s job to decide.
Be sure to check out Amparo’s post on the subject, and then go back to Kate to see if you’ve missed others. And, don’t forget to view Kate’s post on our new blog chain topic Monday.