Dealing with Unhappy

temerity · Apr 17, 2007

Okay: major problem. I was looking back through some old stories I've written (all short; I only write short fiction at this point), just to see how much I've progressed (it's been in leaps and bounds, which is great).

However, I was reading through these short pieces and noticing that I don't have any happy stories dealing with the everyday; the only upbeat stories I have are in the romance catagory, and (as much as this embarasses me to admit it) most of them were written for fanfiction. This represents about 3/35 of my work and is, I think, some cause for concern.

The "unhappy" stories aren't angsty--don't get me wrong! Generally, they're more bittersweet. Most of them follow the same pattern: the main character goes through something horrible (usually rape or a death), and then they have to go through a recovery process in which, by the end of the story, there is a ray of hope which it is assumed the character will continue to move towards, though the story doesn't continue after the character takes the first steps toward recovery.

I don't understand this emphasis or the repeating theme. I'm a bubbly (and generally very happy) person. People have said that they've never seen me without a smile.

This attitude, obviously, isn't reflected in my writing. I couldn't write a happy non-romantic story if I tried.

What is my problem??? Help!--I don't want to be an angsty writer!

Silver King · Apr 17, 2007

If your characters continually experience "rape or death," it's hard to put a bubbly spin on your stories. But who says stories should end happily without a certain amount of angst, anyway? Just think of what goes on around you: How much ends well with a pink bow used to tie up all the loose ends?

pdr · Apr 17, 2007

How much ends well with a pink bow used to tie up all the loose ends?

Nothing!

Penguin Queen · Apr 18, 2007

A lot of my stories are like that - and like you, I am somebody who laughs a lot, is a bit of a clown etc.
I'm not really worried about it. I know where those stories about violence / rape / persecution come from (my own abusive childhood) and I think it's both something I had to deal with and explore, but also stories of the sort I woudl have wanted to read which werent there - so I wrote them. I'm slowly beginning to write some other stuff as well, some more light-hearted, some exploring other topics while still being quite deep. Ideally, I want to get somewhere where there is maybe as much light as shadow, but for me, writing just stories with happy-clappy endings woudlnt work. They would be put on.

And I think it's perfectly possible to write about "difficult" topics like rape or other violence or grief etc without being "angsty".

bsolah · Apr 18, 2007

There is plenty in the world that isn't good. It makes me angry and emotional and so it's quite natural that I'd want to write about it.

It's the overall outlook of this that matters. I write about horrible things (war, racism, poverty) but I'm not a cynic, I don't think the human race is doomed and I try to end my stories with a feeling that things can change. Of course, some of my stories have ended bad but there's always a message there, something to take away that comments on why things need to be done, such as standing up and being counted, speaking out etc.

Susan Lanigan · Apr 18, 2007

I was talking to a friend of mine recently and she was saying to me "so basically you write your stories for anger management" and I laughed because it's so true!

Kate Thornton · Apr 18, 2007

Well, basically I write my stories for revenge. I guess it all evens out - at least in my stories it does. We can't all write happy endings, but I like a good and satisfying revenge story.

I wouldn't worry about the dark things we work out in our writing - it makes the writing better and the world safer.

temerity · Apr 18, 2007

Thanks, everyone, for the input!

I guess I don't mind writing about less-than-pleasant things, but I recently recieved a bad review on a short-short I did (http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2329323/1/) and one of my friends has said that my writing is melodramatic. I try my very hardest not to be melodramatic. I always try to provide a reason for the way things work out like they do for the main character, and it's not like I have everyone committing suicide. There aren't any unduly violent or tragic scenes (actually, next-to-none), and so I can't understand how something can be melodramatic (ie angsty) when I've provided the proper, non-cliched (well, I hope!) reasons and motivations for the characters' emotions.

I'd say that melodrama would be something that puts too much of an emphasis on strong emotion without laying the groundwork, and alienates the reader from the story rather than forces them to empathize with the MC.

...how would you define melodrama, and how is it possible to know if it's present in your work?

WildScribe · Apr 18, 2007

Most of my stuff is not just not fluffy, it is downright horrific. I can't seem to fit "happy" into a short story.

Penguin Queen · Apr 18, 2007

@temerity:

I guess you just can't please all poeple all of the time. Some poeple and some publications like pink and fluffy, and they will look askance at trauma and drama and the like. Just one of those things.

How to konw whether melodrama is present... this is probably a bit simplistic, but I would go by how many adjectives/adverbs you have.
High adjective/adverb word count: high likelihood of melodrama.
Low adjective/adverb word count: low likelihood of melodrama.

Or try the Share Your Work section of the boards & ask poeple.

Kate Thornton · Apr 18, 2007

I read your work. I think the setting and action are very well done - it is a dark and disturbing subject, but I think it was handled with a truthful voice. I didn't see it as melodramatic, but there should be a resolution of some sort for it to be more than a vignette. This is really just an illustration - a horrific illustration, but more of a snapshot that a full story.

Back away from the subject matter for a second and try to see it as a story rather than a horrible experience. Then try to see an ending, a consequence. Does she get revenge (always a favorite of mine!) or is it a flashback and she's now in her late 40's and has found rohypnol in her teenage son's room? Or maybe she is in her 40's and can't stop worrying about her daughter. Or maybe she raised a daughter so strictly, terrified of what could happen, that now the daughter has run away. Or maybe...well, you get the picture.

Nice work - let's see an ending!

Layla Nahar · Apr 19, 2007

"by the end of the story, there is a ray of hope which it is assumed the character will continue to move towards"

that sounds happy to me. Life is hard. If you can figure out how to see the good amid all the stuff that happens what's not happy about that?

Anthony Ravenscroft · Apr 19, 2007

Ever listen to a dozen Richard Thompson albums in a row?? Good gods but that man comes across as scary-dark & warped in a not-pleasant way!!

Yet he's very mellow, thoughtful, pleasant, with fits of wonderful humor.

The theory is that, by writing so many dark, depressive, even psychotic songs, he's exorcising his inner demons. Maybe that's all you're doing with your stories.

sgtmrb03 · Apr 20, 2007

I'm the same way. I'm usually optimistic, but the body count in the first few stories I've written is pretty high. Usually dark subject matter. But now I'm working on a really light story. Maybe it all depends on what kind of mood your muse is in on a given day.

kg_crow · Apr 24, 2007

The greater the villain, the greater the hero.

I'll echo Layla, if your story ends with the hero overcoming the trauma and becoming stronger, if the reader comes away with a sense of hope, then you've done your job.

Isn't great fiction about great conflict and the hero's struggle to overcome great odds?

In the vast majority of case--in fiction, anyway--the good guy wins!

Lyra Jean · Apr 24, 2007

I think the majority of short fiction isn't very happy/fluffy. That's the nature of it. Exceptions to the rule apply.

Even fairy tales like Cinderella aren't completely fluffy. That ends with the step sisters eyes getting plucked out by birds and this after they cut off parts of their feet so the shoe would fit.

Dealing with Unhappy

temerity

desperately deadlined!

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

pdr

Penguin Queen

Break the rules.

bsolah

AW's Resident Commie

Susan Lanigan

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

temerity

desperately deadlined!

WildScribe

Slave to the Wordcount

Penguin Queen

Break the rules.

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

Layla Nahar

Seashell Seller

Anthony Ravenscroft

Scribble, scribble, scribble

sgtmrb03

kg_crow

Please hold your applause

Lyra Jean

Two years old now.