tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post5786762417824000581..comments2024-02-16T02:32:13.736-08:00Comments on Write About Now: Cry if I Want ToSherrie Petersenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-12321020218726945562010-02-07T18:39:23.842-08:002010-02-07T18:39:23.842-08:00I've only would be about to cry in joy. There&...I've only would be about to cry in joy. There's only one book that's sad. It's a book called <br />one-nine-three-six. there's a girl named Fallin. Her mom told the kids Grandma died. have a sBut i question for you. How do you know if you're book will make someone cry?Miss Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15146566292958754617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-81209670864042797012010-02-06T14:41:06.938-08:002010-02-06T14:41:06.938-08:00LiLa - Beach Music made me want to slit my wrists....LiLa - <i>Beach Music</i> made me want to slit my wrists. So depressing. Excellent writing.Sarah Laurensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252565450452195395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-15194527933725571492010-02-06T14:36:44.461-08:002010-02-06T14:36:44.461-08:00If you put your hand an inch away from your eyes, ...If you put your hand an inch away from your eyes, that's the point I normally write from - generally first person and very, very close. I want the reader to feel what I'm feeling. This is not easy as there are things not included that go into that feeling - my life's backstory.<br /><br />So I try to find the right words, and include just enough detail to create that emotion no matter what life experience the reader brings to the table. A good critique group is essential here.Sarah Laurensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09252565450452195395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-14012280476706530172010-02-05T07:49:04.176-08:002010-02-05T07:49:04.176-08:00OMG! The cockroach totally made me cry. Who knew ...OMG! The cockroach totally made me cry. Who knew this was possible?Vivian Mahoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11285339307161020541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-26615780074766557032010-02-04T18:02:47.890-08:002010-02-04T18:02:47.890-08:00Ice cream. That's the exact same reaction I h...Ice cream. That's the exact same reaction I had to that scene in Gregor, only I couldn't think how to say it. Ice cream; that's it.TatteredSpinnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15464850359953881693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-16322642547561462162010-02-04T15:45:17.181-08:002010-02-04T15:45:17.181-08:00The cockroach made me cry too, Sherrie. It really ...The cockroach made me cry too, Sherrie. It really comes down to the relationships and then the overwhelming sense of loss. Something that can never be again.<br />I'm working on it in current WIP. I figure if on this read through I come close to tears, i'm on the right track.PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-64693802092403110272010-02-04T13:15:21.209-08:002010-02-04T13:15:21.209-08:00Wonderful post, Sherrie. I recently cried my way ...Wonderful post, Sherrie. I recently cried my way through the back half of Jo Knowles' Jumping Off Swings (thank you for that recommendation). I cried when I read Savvy. I cry all the time . . . and yes, I hope I can someday write characters that readers will love enough to cry over. Great reminder about not trying to manipulate readers into that.Lori W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15513938828806159874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-71044571856718131972010-02-03T22:17:37.913-08:002010-02-03T22:17:37.913-08:00I was surprised that I cried near the end of The F...I was surprised that I cried near the end of The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I knew it was scary, I didn't know there would be so many good people dying.<br />I wrote a sad scene into my latest WIP. Whether it makes anybody cry I won't know for awhile, but it made me sad to write it. Of course, I felt compelled to listen to Jeff Buckley singing "I Know It's Over" and other songs made for melancholy while I wrote.Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-28413280566380582112010-02-03T19:12:08.639-08:002010-02-03T19:12:08.639-08:00A cockroach??? Really?? That person must be SOME...A cockroach??? Really?? That person must be SOME writer!!!<br /><br />I cried in Hattie Big Sky. And The Watsons go to Birmingham. Blubbered would be a more accurate word.<br /><br />sfHardygirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02268385174949496800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-11776215643241090142010-02-03T15:56:01.134-08:002010-02-03T15:56:01.134-08:00ALL THE NUMBERS made me cry...a lot! It's a w...ALL THE NUMBERS made me cry...a lot! It's a woman's fiction. I don't read many grown up books, but I met the author at a charity event. It was powerful, I had lost a friend a few months before I read the book...It helped me...crying is good.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-85953131657454330962010-02-03T15:29:53.590-08:002010-02-03T15:29:53.590-08:00Laurel: Good point! If the characters are crying, ...Laurel: Good point! If the characters are crying, readers won't. Good to remember.<br /><br />Shannon: Having kids made me an easy crier. Sad but true.<br /><br />Elana: I'm not writing for tears either, but I'm always fascinated by reader emotions to books.<br /><br />MG: If I feel manipulated into anything the only emotion I'm left with is irritation. What is with Hallmark and tears?!<br /><br />Kelly: I never expected to cry for Snape, but I did too! LOVE the Hunger Games. You'll have to tell me what you think of it!<br /><br />Yat-Yee: I haven't written any teary books either. And I think if you write from an authentic place, you're going to pull readers in no matter what you're writing.<br /><br />Greg: You should read the Gregor books. Drew really liked the Brotherhood, he liked the whole series :)<br /><br />Shelli: I'm reading that right now!<br /><br />Laura: I'm actually hoping more for laughs in my writing than for tears. And I agree with the warning label! Terabithia had me in tears too.<br /><br />Jackee: I think when it's unexpected it makes the tears fall even harder!<br /><br />Diane: When I was pregnant I even cried at an Adam Sandler movie. Pitiful, huh?<br /><br />Becky: I haven't read those yet, but I keep the tear warning in mind!<br /><br />LiLa: Sometimes you do just need a good cry, huh?<br /><br />Rebecca: When our kids react to our books the way we want them to, that's always a good thing :)<br /><br />TerryLynn: I haven't read either of those, but I do like a good memoir!<br /><br />Susan: Gotta love those beta readers!Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-28468442041570266592010-02-03T14:53:16.514-08:002010-02-03T14:53:16.514-08:00I opened my book with a death scene, and my betas ...I opened my book with a death scene, and my betas told me they weren't connected enough to the characters to feel anything. I've corrected that problem. I agree that you have to give the readers a reason to care. They have to develop an emotional attachment to the characters before they can cry for them.Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-83570646568591068612010-02-03T14:46:14.785-08:002010-02-03T14:46:14.785-08:00Interesting. The only book that ever made me cry w...Interesting. The only book that ever made me cry was The Voyage of the Northern Magic - a memoir. But I'd have to say I came close reading The Art of Racing in the Rain.TerryLynnJohnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08380207155608982319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-22675933646361185282010-02-03T14:31:56.690-08:002010-02-03T14:31:56.690-08:00My book made my daughter cry. I count that as a bi...My book made my daughter cry. I count that as a big success! <br /><br />Some authors that have choked me up are Sharon Creech and Karen Hesse. Almost every time I read one of their books!Rebecca Gomezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06842712720778708758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-47597695512516703352010-02-03T13:52:59.182-08:002010-02-03T13:52:59.182-08:00The Lovely Bones, Beach Music, Belong to Me, The B...The Lovely Bones, Beach Music, Belong to Me, The Book Thief. I'm a crier. And I agree. Sometimes it really is therapeutic!lisa and laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18144863275895761642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-43789796326796522062010-02-03T13:34:16.194-08:002010-02-03T13:34:16.194-08:00I'm not sure about actual crying, but absolute...I'm not sure about actual crying, but absolute heart-wrenching pain? Whale Talk (gut-punch ending) by Chris Crutcher and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.Becky Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08406002037226319543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-50801949770351618602010-02-03T11:48:46.288-08:002010-02-03T11:48:46.288-08:00I think I managed to place a sad, teary moment in ...I think I managed to place a sad, teary moment in each of my fiction books so far. One of the strongest involved a scene between a daughter and father who were enstranged.<br /><br />Hmmm... trying to think of a book that makes me cry. I know lots of movies that'll do it!L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-40698368157310842382010-02-03T11:16:17.210-08:002010-02-03T11:16:17.210-08:00I'm not a big crier, but I do love books that ...I'm not a big crier, but I do love books that can make me cry and laugh at different times throughout. Usually if I cry over a book it's when I can relate to the character's injury. The last book to make me do that was Shannon Hale's The Actor and Housewife. Which I didn't expect it to do to me.Jackeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03351019926958000627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-69467090323791847352010-02-03T11:08:28.077-08:002010-02-03T11:08:28.077-08:00I think tears and laughter are two of the hardest ...I think tears and laughter are two of the hardest things to accomplish in writing. Because if a sad scene feels forced or contrived at all - it doesn't work. And usually when the character is crying, I'm not. I think you are totally right that a tearjerker is built step by step, page by page.<br /><br />One book, actually two, I sobbed at is Where the Red Fern Grows and Bridge to Teribethia. They really should come with warnings - Do not read the ending in a public place.Laura Paulinghttp://www.laurapauling.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-22024267966800558352010-02-03T10:18:29.372-08:002010-02-03T10:18:29.372-08:00lovely bones had me weeping from page onelovely bones had me weeping from page oneShelli (srjohannes)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17123227845032402600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-50535035879209102372010-02-03T10:11:10.163-08:002010-02-03T10:11:10.163-08:00Crying over a cockroach...oh my! Seriously, I hea...Crying over a cockroach...oh my! Seriously, I hear what you're saying. You can't feel something for someone you don't know. btw...thanks for nominating The Brotherhood of the Traveling Underpants for the Cybill. GregGreg Trinehttp://gtrine.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-12286664552692196032010-02-03T09:48:53.446-08:002010-02-03T09:48:53.446-08:00I cried when the cockroach died too, and a few oth...I cried when the cockroach died too, and a few other times while reading the Gregor and friends. <br /><br />As for writing for tears: I don't. Nobody likes their emotions manipulated. I hate movies that somehow make me cry even though I am not that moved. The same with movies that make me laugh in a forced-tickle kind of way: hate that. I just hope that if I try to be as authentic as I can in my creating of characters and their stories, and hopefully that will touch my readers.Yat-Yeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04028075516122778317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-75122687748077147682010-02-03T09:14:05.829-08:002010-02-03T09:14:05.829-08:00The cockroach that made me cry. That's funny (...The cockroach that made me cry. That's funny (but sounds like a touching moment, I can totally relate to protecting your children at all costs!)<br />The last Harry Potter made me cry big time. I just started reading The Hunger Games (I had never read a synopsis about it, just heard all the hype so decided to read it), and I almost cried at the last sentence of the first chapter!Kelly Polarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10968381456100611120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-28019450966926592272010-02-03T09:06:00.650-08:002010-02-03T09:06:00.650-08:00You make such a good point about not manipulating ...You make such a good point about not manipulating readers into crying. I don't watch those Hallmark TV movies for that reason. THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN is a great example of really heartfelt emotion coming from characters. I was crying on the second page. Yikes.MG Higginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03584010470283038023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9011133488035315179.post-71268729716937147892010-02-03T08:51:55.760-08:002010-02-03T08:51:55.760-08:00Excellent book and relationship to writing! I'...Excellent book and relationship to writing! I'm not sure I want to make my readers cry, but if I did, I think it would be because they care about the characters so much that when the bad stuff happens, the reader is affected.Elana Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.com