tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post7916941952867398218..comments2024-03-20T08:27:29.290+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: Writers' Tools: EmpathyLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-49620279716759598492011-10-24T08:59:30.324+11:002011-10-24T08:59:30.324+11:00Amie, yes, yes! Exactly right. Each character will...Amie, yes, yes! Exactly right. Each character will have a different perspective on an event.<br /><br />Shah, weekends I usually take a break and try my hardest not to turn on the computer, but I'll check it out.<br /><br />Sharon, yes, getting into the character's skin is the best way to do it.<br /><br />Jennifer, that would have been a fantastic experience.<br /><br />Nas, thanksLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-46831068644070543782011-10-24T08:57:48.583+11:002011-10-24T08:57:48.583+11:00Rachna, being more observant is a great place to s...Rachna, being more observant is a great place to start :)<br /><br />Melodie, I'm always in favour of avoiding hair-pulling solutions.<br /><br />Mary, great examples.<br /><br />Margo, yes exactly, and I think it's also to do with 'experiencing' other characters/people than our small circle of family and friends.<br /><br />Tony, well put.<br /><br />Colby, hahaha, amusing point.<br /><br />Denise, ha, so true. <br /><br />Madeleine, and it doesn't take too much effort either.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-68858177807648814602011-10-24T06:43:23.629+11:002011-10-24T06:43:23.629+11:00A terrific post and great advice. Loved this post!...A terrific post and great advice. Loved this post!Nashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984530648140460594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-122658354004679962011-10-23T09:10:04.720+11:002011-10-23T09:10:04.720+11:00Wonderful posts and great comments so far. I tend...Wonderful posts and great comments so far. I tend to become my character when I'm writing and I try to feel and see the world as he/she does.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-40511976864550340232011-10-22T22:51:13.652+11:002011-10-22T22:51:13.652+11:00Thanks for this brilliant list - its bookmarked ;D...Thanks for this brilliant list - its bookmarked ;D <br /><br /><br /><br />I wanted to share with you that there's a new writing challenge/linky in town. Every weekend I'll share a PROMPT and every Wednesday everyone can link up there (poem or short story 500 max)response at the Storyteller Linky. This weeks prompt is a Picture. Check it out. :)<br /><br />I also have a spooky book review and the weekend blog hop right now too! http://wordsinsync.blogspot.com/2011/10/halloween-book-review-voice-of-blood-by.html<br /><br />Love to have you on bored, but have a great weekend either way. Shah.XShah Whartonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04997125261145672115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-19850525896069548192011-10-22T20:06:08.915+11:002011-10-22T20:06:08.915+11:00Fantastic advice. I'm a mediator by profession...Fantastic advice. I'm a mediator by profession, so we're all about seeing things from other points of view. I think you can get enormous insight (and enrich your stories no end) by asking yourself what someone else knows and sees, and how they might be interpreting it.Amie Kaufmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116472165351759477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-60187979679073919252011-10-22T19:30:18.540+11:002011-10-22T19:30:18.540+11:00Some really great points here.Some people are bett...Some really great points here.Some people are better than empathy than others, but these reminders should set everyone on the right tracks.xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-6576469882266557702011-10-22T18:12:14.248+11:002011-10-22T18:12:14.248+11:00Hi Lynda. This is completely fascinating. You don&...Hi Lynda. This is completely fascinating. You don't see many posts on empathy. Love the quote, although sometimes I think you could say writers write from empty!<br /><br />Thanks for sharing such a thoughtful post.<br /><br />DeniseDenise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-65013600576933989592011-10-22T13:31:40.940+11:002011-10-22T13:31:40.940+11:00Makes it really tough if there's a sociopath o...Makes it really tough if there's a sociopath out there trying to form a writing career...colbymarshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14056535503422186623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-18345669867963938852011-10-22T11:57:42.220+11:002011-10-22T11:57:42.220+11:00i agree, there's so much one can actually expe...i agree, there's so much one can actually experiment throught life, but its nothing compared to the vast ammount of things one can learn, think or percieve through empathyIgneel21https://www.blogger.com/profile/08933556198189963295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-58822140579250347442011-10-22T07:43:28.061+11:002011-10-22T07:43:28.061+11:00Magnificent quote and I was THRILLED to see the po...Magnificent quote and I was THRILLED to see the possible connection between reading a lot of fiction and a higher level of empathy.<br /><br />I think it's because fiction often shows antagonist with a touch of goodness to them, or at least a good reason for their "badness." But there are lots of other reasons where this connection to empathy could come from, too.Margo Berendsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476308235642890474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-46776203717140937412011-10-22T04:44:51.286+11:002011-10-22T04:44:51.286+11:00daydreaming is a good one. It's always somethi...daydreaming is a good one. It's always something I've been good at -- empathy. <br /><br />Talking to people different from ourselves with different lives helps. Taking the time to listen instead of judging.M Paxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096697282530998519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-63679789601272644432011-10-22T04:35:55.003+11:002011-10-22T04:35:55.003+11:00Love this post! Esp. the fact that NONE of these i...Love this post! Esp. the fact that NONE of these ideas involve pulling out hair in front of a keyboard. :) I'm glad to know other writers share my opinion about life getting in the way of keyboard time...one fuels the other.Melodie Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04599091593083976703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-3357330278944625992011-10-21T18:33:01.828+11:002011-10-21T18:33:01.828+11:00Great advice, Lynda. Frankly speaking, I haven'...Great advice, Lynda. Frankly speaking, I haven't done much to hone my Empathy skills, but I will try to do so now. Though I have become more observant, I still need to tap into the empathy source.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-81150834365116754762011-10-21T15:13:14.601+11:002011-10-21T15:13:14.601+11:00Suze, oh sounds great. Good luck with your non-fic...Suze, oh sounds great. Good luck with your non-fictional ventures.<br /><br />McKenzie, completely empathise? no, but we can get mighty close.<br /><br />Theresa, yes, empathy in characters is a quality that makes them more human.<br /><br />Melissa, that's a good method and a good exercise to practise.<br /><br />Debbie, it's great, isn't it ;)Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-133665222880450612011-10-21T13:32:39.527+11:002011-10-21T13:32:39.527+11:00Good to know that I can get away with using daydre...Good to know that I can get away with using daydreaming as a writing tool! Once again, more great writing advice here Lynda.Debbiehttp://debbie-johansson.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-5295906852022093842011-10-21T13:26:09.540+11:002011-10-21T13:26:09.540+11:00Great article. I think that our true life experien...Great article. I think that our true life experiences is the only way to develop character with empathy or that the readers will empathize with. We have to search deep down into the times when we gave experienced every emotion & use our sensory memory to try and recall a time when we felt what we need to portray in our writing. That seems to work for me.Melissa Sugarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16268333458796847721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-19952174078559039632011-10-21T11:54:55.414+11:002011-10-21T11:54:55.414+11:00I'd like to think I have empathy, but this pos...I'd like to think I have empathy, but this post makes me think of how I can make sure.<br /><br />You should do a companion post about character empathy. Antagonists tend to have lack of empathy. And sometimes protagonists can have too much at the expense of themselves or sometimes be so self-absorbed that they don't empathize with other characters.Theresa Milsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03477761307315565259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-6516041792112617002011-10-21T10:24:37.743+11:002011-10-21T10:24:37.743+11:00My mom is a nursing professor and often talks abou...My mom is a nursing professor and often talks about empathy in regard to patient care. One of her colleagues once said empathy was impossible because there was no way of actually knowing what a person was going through. She said we could imagine or undergo a similar experience, but since we were not them, couldn't completely empathize. <br /><br />Just some food for thought.McKenzie McCannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11707799179783394809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-81996133872770820502011-10-21T10:09:32.802+11:002011-10-21T10:09:32.802+11:00Actually, I am considering the ultimate writing fr...Actually, I am considering the ultimate writing from experience. I am quite serious about trying my hand at memoirish, slice-of-life non-fiction.<br /><br />I am tired of telling fictions and find I am quite enamored of The Truth. ;)Suzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07908805179119217608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-38722760896820683572011-10-21T08:51:49.947+11:002011-10-21T08:51:49.947+11:00WritingNut, thanks
Hanny, yes indeed
Matt, thank...WritingNut, thanks<br /><br />Hanny, yes indeed<br /><br />Matt, thank so much<br /><br />Joanne, hope they help<br /><br />E R King, you're so right: the would COULD use more empathy and writers have the power to share it.<br /><br />Lynn, when I first heard about that study I was skeptical, but after I thought about it, it made sense.<br /><br />Shelly, haha how perfect!<br /><br />Bish, sailing with pirates? cool!<br /><br />nutschell, yes, that's why it's important to live a little<br /><br />Laila, yes, watching movies is also a great way to expand our experiences.<br /><br />Southpaw, isn't daydreaming the best? <br /><br />Sara, it's easy to put reading lower on the priority list because it often feels like an indulgence (like tv), but it's so important--especially for us writers.<br /><br />Toyin, thanks<br /><br />Plamena, thanksLynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-49053194180922131692011-10-21T07:35:00.330+11:002011-10-21T07:35:00.330+11:00Great advice! Agree with every point!Great advice! Agree with every point!Plamena Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14222695582552877560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-36468260787914602722011-10-21T06:26:51.681+11:002011-10-21T06:26:51.681+11:00Great tips, thanks for sharing.Great tips, thanks for sharing.Toyin O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08429675861306256504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-74166609057454722722011-10-21T06:05:20.018+11:002011-10-21T06:05:20.018+11:00I love that you mention read a lot, I feel like th...I love that you mention read a lot, I feel like that gets forgotten. I haven't been reading as much as I probably should, even though I've been trying to encourage it in others.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10444784814793987285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-55331791235312733892011-10-21T05:55:39.834+11:002011-10-21T05:55:39.834+11:00Daydreaming - I put a lot of time into that. :)
E...Daydreaming - I put a lot of time into that. :)<br /><br />Empathy is a great tool and one that is often overlooked.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.com