Exploring the Artistic Portrayal of Suffering in Literature
In the world of writing, authors often find themselves immersed in the depths of their characters' emotional journeys, especially when penning scenes of trauma or intense emotional moments. Allison Maruska, the author of Project Liberatio (PL), shares her experiences in a recent guest post, delving into the challenges and rewards of writing such scenes.
Maruska, who has been working on PL edits for several days, recalls a particular scene that left her character, and subsequently herself, emotionally wrecked. This scene, if done right, can go a long way, lingering with readers and adding depth to the narrative.
The author's goal is to write characters that resonate with readers by capturing humanity, including pain. To achieve this, Maruska invites primal feelings into the creative process, reaching deep into her primal fears and dread to write the mentioned scenes. This requires imagining what it would be like to experience what she's written for her character, acting out her character's mannerisms, body language, and facial expressions.
Maruska is no stranger to the emotional toll this process can take. She compares it to running the "last mile of a marathon"—knowing these scenes are essential but dreading the intense emotional labor involved. Yet, she acknowledges that this process can also be therapeutic, helping her cope with the emotional weight of the scenes.
Research supports Maruska's approach. Psychologist James W. Pennebaker’s studies on “expressive writing” show that writing about personal trauma can improve emotional and physical health, especially when writers pace themselves and layer emotional truth gradually rather than diving in all at once.
Authors like Adrie Kusserow have incorporated their own or collective trauma into their writing as a form of healing, using poetic and ethnographic language to convey complex emotional realities connected to trauma. Similarly, writers addressing PTSD or other trauma-related themes often deeply engage with their characters' emotional struggles to create plausible and compelling narratives.
However, Maruska reminds fellow writers that this process requires careful pacing and self-care to manage the emotional toll. She asks her peers if they have written something that required reaching deeply, inviting them to share their experiences.
Maruska's posts often reflect her humor blog roots and include topics about teaching and writing specifically. Her latest post serves as a testament to the emotional depth and commitment required to write compelling, emotionally intense scenes. As she continues to work on Part 2 of the Project Renovatio series, now referred to as Project Liberatio (PL), readers can expect more scenes that resonate with humanity's deepest emotions.
The first draft of Maruska's project, Project Liberatio, delves into the home-and-garden of her creative process, painting pictures of emotional landscapes that mirror a home filled with both pain and beauty. This lifestyle, riddled with emotional trials and therapies, often leaves her emotionally wrecked, similar to tending a garden that requires persistent care and nurturing.
