A recent post topic was about writing what you know and it made me wonder how many people use writing as an unofficial form of therapy. When I look back at my fifteen screenplays, most mirror my emotions at that time in my life. No- I'm not writing about my own problems, but putting some of those problems, tragedies, struggles and issues into my characters and the emotional baggage that comes with it. When I'm done, I usually feel better- as if I've been purged of it and my characters seem more like real people.
Then I'm ready to start something new.
Maybe sometimes writing what you know might mean- heartbreak and despair.
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Hi Constance, I was the guilty party of the topic post you mentioned :-) I can relate to what you're saying. The core of my ideas seem to germinate from issues and feelings that surround me in life. There's definitely a sense of catharsis in having my characters figure their way through the questions I ask them, it also reassures me that what I'm trying to say is genuine.
The reason for my initial post was trying to find a way of writing about subjects/characters that I have less/little/no knowledge of. I've arrived at the realisation that it should never be the case. No matter what the scope or setting of my story is I should always be striving to ask a deep singular question that I feel strongly about answering.
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I make costumes.... and I don't talk much about my childhood.... but I can tell you that while I am sewing/ working I am totally immersed in my music and my work telling myself stories about the people who are wearing my clothing. When I see my work being used as I imagined I often have an emotional response (sometimes I even cry) because of the release of my feelings. All stemming from my childhood being so unstable, and me building a beautiful fantasy world where I already know the outcome of the story. I can imagine it is some what the same for other artist. Creating some kind of order out of the chaos in our minds and hearts.
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I have always written as a way of escape, but that was mostly poetry. I have never really worked on a story before. But I have always been this kind of strange person all my life where I always wanted to know what it felt like to be everyone, not all at once, but to change from one person to another, experiencing everything about that person, then move on, as a way of truly knowing who that person was and what they went through in life and how they dealt with it. I'm a huge fan of psychology, I don't know much about it, but I have always watched people very closely, and this weird little....habit...? Well, it gave me the idea for my ultimate character. She inspired me to write. SO i've been working on her while also other stories when I either need a break or can't really work on her at the moment...sorry, I just started rambliing lol.
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I've always wondered about people too. The big things- not what they do, but what has changed them, broke their heart, obstacles, dreams, etc. Everybody has a story- you just have to ask the right questions sometimes.
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I have no demons. They have me.
I don't look for demons but they find me just the same.
Hey, daemons are awesome! They are always watching!
My demons are helping Me write My story..
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That's exactly what it means. I don't think I've met a true artist that DOESN'T espouse their art as therapy. The best things that come out of us, often hurt the most. But, after they come out, they often hurt a little less ...