Thanks!! This was a great article. 🙂

Nikki, it is good to hear from you. Writing is lonely business and sometimes just knowing there are other people out there who share some of the same experiences really makes a big difference. Happy writing.

But my toughest moment was last year, while writing it, when as a special treat I wanted to go to a temple in Philadelphia to hear Jillian Cantor talk about writing MARGOT, her re-imagining of the life of Anne Frank's sister if she hadn't died in Auschwitz. It had been an emotional day working on THE FAR END OF HAPPY when I looked up the address online and discovered it wasn't just an author's talk, it was a Yom HaShoah service to commemorate the six million Jews that had been killed by the Nazis in World War II.

If the horrific and seemingly senseless loss of one life isn't enough to crush you, add six million more. I was a wreck and there was no way I could pull myself together to get to the service, even though that may have been exactly what I needed. For a few days after I experienced that emotional fragility that Vaughn described above and knew I needed time to recover. Again.

The circle of life, and loss, and writing.

Holly, I got edits in on a book the other day, and I was reading the scene where a dog is poisoned, with tears running down my cheeks - even though I KNOW he recovers, because I wrote him! We are nuts...

Hi lalouziane,

everything you just wrote has resonated with me. I agree, we are the lucky ones, not everyone has the outlet of writing (or knows how helpful it can be). Only last night, I journaled through a problem that is causing me pain, it is no magic bullet but today things are definitely easier.

You wrote 'that's what I tell myself', and again that sentiment totally resonates 😉 There is little to guide us through this journey, and I find that sometimes I must be my own best friend, advising myself, reassuring myself, supporting myself in lots of ways. We are lucky when other writers share, it advises, reassures, supports. So once again I thank you for this article.

Best - Nikki
FTHRW_Procrastination loop moderator.

what an honest post, thank you, I identified with so much of what you're going through. I'm so sorry that there is pain in this process. I too get asked 'is it worth it?', and you know what, my answer is 'yes' but god help me if that answer is understood. It is a bizarre profession in my opinion, but one I have to follow.

You asked how do you handle emotional scenes? Good question. I don't know if I handle them exactly. Going through them is obligatory, I think we all agree, but walking away is very difficult. I generally feel raw until whatever time I get to sleep, next day things feel better. I do jump from scene to scene, writing only what I can manage. Some difficult scenes get only a few minutes of my time.

I too have kids, an 18-month old and a 3 year old, both highly emotional like their mum. They totally tune in to whatever's going on with me, and that's something I want, to a degree, to shelter them from.

Thanks for your honesty Steena. Keep doing what you're doing, you inspire me.

Best - Nikki Weston
FTHRW_Procrastination loop moderator

Hi Sheena, I am glad you didn't take offence, I was just a bit concerned for your emotional wellbeing. Keep writing and step back more often. You are welcome to my words and thank you for your kind reply .