Writing Tough Subjects

Writing tough subjects may be slightly different for every writer, still, they cause more than some surface reflection.



Photo by: umjanedoan, courtesy  of Flickr

When I put together "A River of Stones," my first novel, I dealt with the subject of divorce and re-marriage, but I focused on the feelings of a child. And because I was a child of divorced parents with a mother and father who re-married there were many feelings that were tender and difficult for me to talk about.

My first published book

The good news about writing a book using your experience is you are able to get the feelings out--sort of a million (hopefully less) free therapy sessions with your computer or pen. Suffice it to say that I got much of my feelings out about divorce through my main character Samantha, still, it wasn't always easy to share these feelings.

I remember writing about the day my father left. My brother and I had just gotten up and my mother sat us down on the couch to talk to us. It felt sort of strange and a bit too formal. Mom usually talked to us in the kitchen as we ate breakfast or played with our toys. I knew something must be wrong before she opened her mouth.

I guess I could have thought something might have been right, but our family was poor, so I knew we weren't going to be traveling to Disneyland.

Anyway, when she told us the news that my father had left us for good and that it was just 'us' now, I remember feeling empty and a little confused. Later, I was angry and felt like I'd caused the separation and later divorce of my parents. It was my fault because if I'd been a better child my parents wouldn't have had a reason to divorce.

Writing tough subjects is important. There would be nothing worse than fluffy books filling the libraries and book stores. Sure, there's a place for them too, but not the entire store!

If you're working on a tough subject today, keep in mind that there is someone out there who needs it. And whether your book is fiction or nonfiction, be assured that those who are going through your book's specific hardship, will more than likely find a pull to pick up your book and read it once it's finished.