Generally, I believe that experiencing strong emotions can be alleviated not just through writing, but through any form of art. Whenever I felt overwhelmed by intense sadness, shame, or anger, I found it crucial to channel these feelings onto paper, whether through drawing or poetry. Creating something, no matter how allegorical or abstract—actually, the more allegorical the better—helps capture and express those profound emotions more succinctly. That's how it works for me.
Without wanting to sound dramatic, I do mostly write when emotional. Whatever nonsense is going on gets channelled into my work. It's given me a lot of energy out of something that would otherwise be draining.
I wonder if this has happened to others, I have written in the past while I was pretty miffed and I was really drinking in how much of that energy was going into the story.
But when I read it later without all of those feelings, the anger just didn’t come through on the page, even though I still had the memory of how good it resonated before.
I'm in total agreement, David. Use all your emotions. When you're really feeling an emotion deeply, it's the best time to write. Might even save us from a few interactions we'd otherwise regret with people if we just chose to write our way through our emotions rather than go out and make rash decisions based on them.
Great post! I think writing from emotion is really important and I completely sign up to your idea of authenticity and how a few mistakes here and there actually can capture us more. This is also true in music which is why listening to live albums is so great.
Interestingly, I often find I reverse this process when I write. I regularly start writing calm or clear minded, but due to what I am writing about I end it with anger, angst or fear flooding me.
Wonderful insight. Often, I find myself too scared of those intense emotions (despair, frustration, anger) and end up not writing about them, not even in my journal. Thank you for pointing out that these raw feelings are very much a part of the human experience that so many can relate to.
I actually think making some decisions is good when you are angry. When you have put up with a bad situation for too long I think anger can be a great catalyst to act on our self worth and change things.
They always say before you take out your anger you need to take a moment to realize the situation, and in the other hand writing is like thinking but in a slow process. Which is why I agree with you.
Don’t just spew your thoughts onto the internet like an angst-ridden teenager chasing heart emojis on Bebo in 2006.- Absolute Gold. love the idea of authentic over perfect writing. Just subscribed!
I see how most people in the Notes here feel so connected to this idea and while I do agree, I find it so UNBELIEVABLY hard. I think I’m getting better at it as time goes by, but the moment it happens, I just can’t help but look at the blank page without really knowing how to transform my emotions into words. Any thoughts on this? I’d love to hear some advice! :) x
'When you’re boiling over with emotion, let it flow onto the page.'
Yeah, I think it's particularly effective because our strong emotions provide us with the energy, drive, and content to write articles that are more genuine and meaningful. Thus, such articles are more relatable to readers and tend to get higher readership.
Angriest day of my life: I was 11, expecting a Walmart gift card that didn't arrive on a specified date. I threw an impassioned, privileged, and gutteral fit after elementary school dismissed for the day. But I had baseball practice.
My coach noticed my fury, went silent, and began passing the ball with me.
'Move back,' he said. I did.
I caught the ball, moved back, etc., and the ball's parabola grew. I threw the farthest I'd ever throw that day, b/c I channeled my rage through my fingers, into a lob, through the sky - one action.
This is the art of capitalizing on an emotion. It is emotional manipulation of the self.
Five years ago I discovered what it meant to be depressed. I also discovered my love for writing and making songs because I had no other way to communicate my deep feelings of despair. I wrote poem after poem, and those poems became songs. Now those songs have given me the opportunity to create my blog and love my passion.
Generally, I believe that experiencing strong emotions can be alleviated not just through writing, but through any form of art. Whenever I felt overwhelmed by intense sadness, shame, or anger, I found it crucial to channel these feelings onto paper, whether through drawing or poetry. Creating something, no matter how allegorical or abstract—actually, the more allegorical the better—helps capture and express those profound emotions more succinctly. That's how it works for me.
Without wanting to sound dramatic, I do mostly write when emotional. Whatever nonsense is going on gets channelled into my work. It's given me a lot of energy out of something that would otherwise be draining.
I wonder if this has happened to others, I have written in the past while I was pretty miffed and I was really drinking in how much of that energy was going into the story.
But when I read it later without all of those feelings, the anger just didn’t come through on the page, even though I still had the memory of how good it resonated before.
I'm in total agreement, David. Use all your emotions. When you're really feeling an emotion deeply, it's the best time to write. Might even save us from a few interactions we'd otherwise regret with people if we just chose to write our way through our emotions rather than go out and make rash decisions based on them.
Legend!!!
Great post! I think writing from emotion is really important and I completely sign up to your idea of authenticity and how a few mistakes here and there actually can capture us more. This is also true in music which is why listening to live albums is so great.
Interestingly, I often find I reverse this process when I write. I regularly start writing calm or clear minded, but due to what I am writing about I end it with anger, angst or fear flooding me.
Thank you for the article!
Wonderful insight. Often, I find myself too scared of those intense emotions (despair, frustration, anger) and end up not writing about them, not even in my journal. Thank you for pointing out that these raw feelings are very much a part of the human experience that so many can relate to.
I actually think making some decisions is good when you are angry. When you have put up with a bad situation for too long I think anger can be a great catalyst to act on our self worth and change things.
They always say before you take out your anger you need to take a moment to realize the situation, and in the other hand writing is like thinking but in a slow process. Which is why I agree with you.
Don’t just spew your thoughts onto the internet like an angst-ridden teenager chasing heart emojis on Bebo in 2006.- Absolute Gold. love the idea of authentic over perfect writing. Just subscribed!
So true! I was somehow superior at writing when I giving bad reviews for restaurants because of their disaster food.
Any artist or writers are mad only.
I see how most people in the Notes here feel so connected to this idea and while I do agree, I find it so UNBELIEVABLY hard. I think I’m getting better at it as time goes by, but the moment it happens, I just can’t help but look at the blank page without really knowing how to transform my emotions into words. Any thoughts on this? I’d love to hear some advice! :) x
At least it’s a great way to overcome writers block and get the creative juices flowing even if it ends up overcooked? 😂
There always editing after 😉
'When you’re boiling over with emotion, let it flow onto the page.'
Yeah, I think it's particularly effective because our strong emotions provide us with the energy, drive, and content to write articles that are more genuine and meaningful. Thus, such articles are more relatable to readers and tend to get higher readership.
Angriest day of my life: I was 11, expecting a Walmart gift card that didn't arrive on a specified date. I threw an impassioned, privileged, and gutteral fit after elementary school dismissed for the day. But I had baseball practice.
My coach noticed my fury, went silent, and began passing the ball with me.
'Move back,' he said. I did.
I caught the ball, moved back, etc., and the ball's parabola grew. I threw the farthest I'd ever throw that day, b/c I channeled my rage through my fingers, into a lob, through the sky - one action.
This is the art of capitalizing on an emotion. It is emotional manipulation of the self.
What a timely and moving article.
Five years ago I discovered what it meant to be depressed. I also discovered my love for writing and making songs because I had no other way to communicate my deep feelings of despair. I wrote poem after poem, and those poems became songs. Now those songs have given me the opportunity to create my blog and love my passion.