: How to avoid being overwhelmed by your stories when you write them When I am writing a very intense and dramatic scene, I often become overwhelmed by it and have to stop writing. Any tips

Vote Up Vote Down

Feeling intensely while writing a scene is not a bad thing. If you don't feel strongly about an emotional scene, why should your readers? If anything, you should be asking if your writing does enough to evoke the feeling you hope your readers will share with you.

(0)

Vote Up Vote Down

For the most part, I don't stop, I use that emotion as motivation.

If I do have to stop, I talk to someone about it for a few minutes to process the emotion.

(0)

Vote Up Vote Down

In two words, do not. It is perfectly fine to be overwhelmed. I laugh, cringe, and cry when I write, and then again when I read it out loud to my audiences. Sometimes I have to stop for minutes, because what I wrote or about to read is just too funny or sad. If you will try to rule your mind with an iron fist, you risk losing your inner self that makes you a writer.

PS: This should be considered one of the best questions on WSE.

(0)

Vote Up Vote Down

Get everything that could be weighing on you outside of your story out of the way (do everything you must do for that day, settle things, etc.). Then, when you're in a good headspace, use that overwhelming feeling to your advantage to get neck-deep in the emotion. If writing it is causing you to feel things, then it probably is translating to readers and that's great so take advantage of it.

But if it's really overwhelming, like in a bad way, maybe just plan your writing carefully so you do it when you really know you are up to the task.

(0)