The Angry Writer: The Pen as a Sword

[dctilak]

Do you write when you are angry or when you're 'normal'?

Anger, depression, guilt, hate, sadness - all negative emotions seem to spurn writers to writing more than the positive emotions or states of mind.

Anger is energy. And it is these negative emotions that seem to have greater energy, hate more than joy, jealousy more than peacefulness. These when translated into writing can yield good fruit. Writing is use of energy. Shakespeare's greatest plays (all tragedies) were all written during the saddest phase of his life.

I'm not telling you to get depressed or work up frustration. But if you're angry, you don't have to pick up the gun. A pen may do the job. That's why I feel heart-felt diary writing is as violent as a brutal film. Only, here the writer is the hero or heroine.

I hope that if this write-up hasn't made you feel good, it has made you feel mad. Any retaliation?:mad:

John Tilak;)

[Angyl]

Interesting.

I couldn't imagine having a blowout with my wife then having the concentration to sit down and continue my stories, though. Some of our fights would MAKE good (humorous) stories, though! ;)

[james_pence]

Good question.

The only times that writing while angry is helpful to me is if I want to write an op-ed piece. If I've seen something in the news that has set me off, sometimes I'll write the first draft while I'm still steaming. However, once the draft is finished I always take a day to cool down (or less, depending on the urgency of getting the piece submitted). Once I've "chilled" a bit, I can go back in, cut out most of the angry junk, and leave the reasoned argument.

I've had several op-eds published in the Dallas Morning News, and most of them were written when I was angry.

Jim

[Baselice]

I certainly have, quite a few times after a disagreement with my husband, I have done some of my best work.
Did 2 Newsletters after a fight, He left for the day and I wrote. One on how to Live above your circumstances (Not under them) The other on suffering.
I use writing when I am either angry,hurt or depressed. The same as I
would, If I am depressed I go and look for someone who is in worse condition
then I.
(Never have had to look to far either)
So writing being ministry, it works for me.
One more thought, at the lowest point in my life, I took up painting. I was at the bottom,trust me, I asked God could you just let me paint something beautiful. AND HE DID!
Mary Ann Baselice

[ladypreacher]

dctilac, or John if you'd prefer,

I wrote a scene specifically in my novel, the by now infamous, An Angel of Mercy, to address an issue that had given me great anger; But I did not write in haste. Instead I prayed about it, and then I calmly, methodically, and with controlled anger took up my pen as a sword. It's well worth sharing and I'll try to keep it brief.

Here's the backround: There's a group of people who gather once a year in a remote place to celebrate, "The Burning Man." It was brought to my attention by an episode of the 700 Club. They aired footage shot by an undercover reporter.

There was sacrilege and immorality and evil as the day is long. It's one thing to be a lost sinner, not being enlightened enough to be able to discern good from evil. It's another to outright defy God and His Holy Son.

God has a work yet to do on me I am sure, for as I viewed this program I was so enraged that all I could think was, You desire Hell. Well, so be it. Run hard to it! (One of their rituals is the seven steps into Hell.)

Maybe I'm not as far off as I feel... David of old, a man after God's own heart, stated:

Do I not hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? Psalms 139:21


"I had a dream. I saw a burning man. The fire didn't consume him; it just fed off of his misery. If he would scream, which he did often, it would feed the fire and the flames would lap hotter and hotter at his stinking flesh. He begged a drink. A flame-laden hand presented a cup to the man. In a desperate act to quench the fire that burned hot in his throat, the burning man lifted it to his flame drenched mouth. He opened his mouth and poured the liquid greedily into it. Liquid fire surged into his waiting mouth and married the fire that awaited it in his throat and the intensity of the agony multiplied in strength. A scream hollered uncontrollably from the tortured burning man. He didn't know, but he had fire in his hand."

I wrote that scene as ugly as I could imagine; But not without showing that there is a better way. Guess it was my way to fight fire with fire...

Continued as written:

"I woke up in a cold sweat. Once I was able to go back to sleep, I did so, and I had another dream.

I saw a burning man. The fire engulfed him, and yet it did not consume him. Everytime he would open his mouth the fire would burn brighter. In my mind's eye I went a little closer, for I could not tell what it was he was saying. Was he screaming in agony? I thought not; his face showed no signs of pain. Then I heard and I understood. He was speaking words of praise and adoration to the Lord His God. Then he spoke of having a great thirst. A glorious hand of grace offered him a cup. He lifted it to his lips and was filled with the Holy Ghost and with power. Indeed, the fire burned hot within him.

Our God is a consuming fire. Neither of the burning men in my dreams were consumed by the fire, and yet every fiber of their beings were consumed with the fire. Neither could escape the hold the fire had on them. Only one wanted to..."

[wgjones3]

Anger + Keyboard = Recycle Bin.

I don't think straight when I'm mad or upset. I don't write well if I'm not thinking straight. Granted, I have vented through writing many times, just not in my novel.

The only thing that I can think of that makes my writing better is a swell of passion within me. Sometimes it's the passion to make God proud of me, doing something I know He approves of. Sometimes it's the passion to write something better than the drivel I just spent $15.00 on, written by an author who wouldn't have passed 10th grade English with the skills he or she exhibits in their book. Sometimes it's the passion to write and be published, so that I can say that I have stepped up to my calling. Mostly, though, it's the passion to do what I'm supposed to do.

Writing is the only thing I can ever imagine myself doing and being happy doing. Writing Christian fiction, what I consider to be the only thing I can write, is why I was put on this earth. That, and to eat lots of pizza and to tell the world that Jesus Christ is Lord. Now, I've done a terriffic job with the pizza so far, but the other two... let's just say, I'm praying for the grace and boldness to plow forth with the other two in the way that God would have me go.

I've been going for about 17 hours on less than 6 hours sleep, if any of you wonder why I won't shut up :D

[cawheat]

For me, when I do my weekly op-ed columns, anger can help get my thoughts out quickly. Then I re-edit and humor them up a wee bit...

[Botim]

Belove,i understand what really want. a fast driving message somposed through letters that can send in your message quick and fully. Probabilly a fearless writer. but which ever way, I think it an inspired, writer you need. then we can add fealess and self control writer.

Inspiration we provoke your thought, action and pen. just like the prophet said, it is like a coal of fire, you cannot drop it and you can not eat it. we need inspirational writers and not angry writers. if, that is right we may be like the civil writers, news papers editors, human right actvist but we must be inspirational writer grounded in truth and willing and fearles to share it through print. songs or preaching.

:)

[Mr. Otis]

When I'm angry, I blog. That's why blogs were invented, right? ;)

[waterfallbooks]

Interesting 2 1/2 year old topic. :) I often write to vent anger - but it's usually in a journal or fictionalized story made up at the spur of the moment. I may get ideas from these writings, but I can't work on my regular writing well when I'm mad.

Blogs - I use my "professional" one only for writing peeves. My personal one - that's another story. There are reasons why the link for my second blog isn't pasted all over the web. :rolleyes: :D