Depression Writing

[Tariel]

Ok....so recently I found a short story that I had written most of several months ago when I was depressed. The problem is that this story is actually good - and I can't finish it. The depression is long gone, and it took my voice with it No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get my voice for that story back. I'm sorely tempted to try to get back there emotionally, just so I can finish the story, but my friends advise against that. Do any of you have any other suggestions? Should I just abandon it? Or try to manufacture a voice for the ending? Any anything else?

Does it have to be a choice between emotional stability and good writing?

 

[sunstruckdream]

What I would do is try out an ending - manufacture one to the best of your ability. (I'd advise against going back to that emotional state as well). If you like it, cool. If you don't, put it aside for awhile, and maybe try again later. At least then you know you didn't just chuck aside a good thing for no reason.

I've actually been through this. And I hate it, because once I'm out of the emotional state, I usually have no drive to finish the story, no matter how much I like it.

 

[MrBF1V3]

It's probably not a good idea to try to generate a depressed state for the sake of a story. --Most people are somewhat manic/depressive anyway, just not to the point where it takes over their lives. I would suggest putting the story on the back burner. Pull it out every so often and look it over. You'll finish it whenever you're ready.

If you never finish it, you can count it as part of your million words. (You know; the first million words are practice.)

For what it's worth,
B5

 

[Tariel]

It's probably not a good idea to try to generate a depressed state for the sake of a story. --Most people are somewhat manic/depressive anyway, just not to the point where it takes over their lives. I would suggest putting the story on the back burner. Pull it out every so often and look it over. You'll finish it whenever you're ready.

If you never finish it, you can count it as part of your million words. (You know; the first million words are practice.)

For what it's worth,
B5

thanks I passed my million words about a year ago though

 

[Lessien]

Well, let's look at Poe: An illustrius career, culminating in a violent death by his own hand.

I think I'd take emotional stability.

 

[Tariel]

Well, let's look at Poe: An illustrius career, culminating in a violent death by his own hand.

I think I'd take emotional stability.

lol - can I have both?

 

[sunstruckdream]

lol - can I have both?

Haha...I ask myself that every day. XP

 

[Lessien]

lol Me too....I've wondered if there's such a thing as an emotionally stable bestselling writer.

Maybe we can start a new trend....

 

[CelticRose]

I'm with MeBF1v3. Put it on the back burner. Re~read it occassionaly. Let it stew & simmer down in the deep dark caverns of your mind. Don't force it & something usually grows & when it does it's stronger than the origonal.

Um, I know it's not popular but there are plenty of good emotionaly stable writers around ~ just don't ask me to name one of the top of my head. I only remember the raving lunatics because they're more intrinsically interesting ~ but I wouldn't want to be one. lol.

 

[Tariel]

lol Me too....I've wondered if there's such a thing as an emotionally stable bestselling writer.

Maybe we can start a new trend....

Sounds like a plan

 

[Cordelia]

Ok....so recently I found a short story that I had written most of several months ago when I was depressed. The problem is that this story is actually good - and I can't finish it. The depression is long gone, and it took my voice with it No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to get my voice for that story back. I'm sorely tempted to try to get back there emotionally, just so I can finish the story, but my friends advise against that. Do any of you have any other suggestions? Should I just abandon it? Or try to manufacture a voice for the ending? Any anything else?

Does it have to be a choice between emotional stability and good writing?

I don't believe there has to be a choice. I actually couldn't write at all when I was most ill with depression. I say keep turning it over in your mind until you find some voice to finish it (I'm sure you can!), or maybe rewrite it in a new, better way.

 

[Talrayn]

Always the chance that mood might creep up on its own one day unforced and the story might almost call to you to finish it. If you can use a negative emotion to accomplish something even if you feel horrible at the time it can still result in something productive.
I have quite a few folders with half finished stories and ideas that were the result of a random and odd state of mind. I never force it, I just wait until whatever state of mind that created it in the first place returns and tells me some more.

Does it have to be a choice between emotional stability and good writing?

Try not to bait a bird to land on you just so you can watch it, it might just end up crapping on you.
But that does not mean you can't watch the birds when they are at the feeder.
In other words, it does not really have to be a choice between the two, use it when it's there but don't force it when it's not. The results when forced might not be what you were seeking.

 

[Tariel]

I know I can manufacture depression - I've done it quite successfully. That's the problem. Well, it looks like I may be writing a novel based on that story once I get my notebook back from my friend It's been almost a week already.

I'll have to see what the market for that sort of thing is