Ponderings on the Emotional Power of Words

I’ve been thinking quite a bit over these past few days about the power of emotion in words.

I mean, you can write something, that isn’t particularly well written, (in the writery craft sense) and it can have a big effect on someone. Be it a small poem to cheer a homesick friend up, or an UnMadeUp piece about being spooked about something you’ve seen but can’t explain. The emotion, the truth you express through these things can be affecting and, in some cases, deeply powerful and moving. Maybe that’s because the emotion, feeling and the point of the writing is obvious and clear.

I don’t think there’s a better example of what I’m talking (or rambling) about than this. It had me in tears. And, what kind of gets lost in the whole thing, is what a tremendous piece of writing it is. But that doesn’t seem important.

I think what I’m trying to say – if I’m trying to make a writing-relevant point – is: in fiction, for something to be moving, to really hit home, it has to be believable and honest and something that can be, if not understood then at least, related to. I think.

Any thoughts?

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Nik Perring is a short story writer, author, teacher of writing, and editor from the UK. His books include the widely celebrated Not So Perfect (Roastbooks, 2010), and A Book of Beautiful Words (2014). He co-wrote Freaks! (TFP/HarperCollins 2012), and A Book of Beautiful Trees is out in 2015.

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  1. That is one of the most powerful and beautiful pieces of writing I’ve read for a long time. Nobody could read that dry eyed.You’re right too. The ‘craft’ of writing comes second place to honesty. If it’s written with truth it will hit the spot.

  2. I agree, Lane. I think craft is incredibly important (well, essential) in any good story telling but if a writer can zone in on an emotion – by using their own experience – then it will, I think, have more impact. I think it’s probably about the transfer of experience too – not every one will have, for instance, lost someone they love to cancer – but they will all know how it feels to be upset or devestated.Thanks for stopping by again!Nik.

  3. What an incredible piece – so moving and so beautifully written. i have left a comment at the foot of it.Happy new year to you Nik. Lots of luck with your writing.Anything on the cards for this year?Jilly

  4. That was such a beautiful and powerful piece of writing – thanks very much for the link, Nik. I didn’t even think about the way it was written/crafted as I read through (though it is, as you say, tremendously well done), I was so absorbed in the words themselves and the truth and pain of the story.Emma x

  5. Hi Emma. You’re welcome. I think that’s part of what I’m getting at. I don’t think I noticed just how well it was written on first reading either – which is probably one of things that makes it a really well written piece.Nik x

  6. You’re welcome. And thanks for dropping by here.It is an exceptional piece, isn’t it!And yes, great to hear from another NW based scribe. There doesn’t seem to be too many of us.Nik.

  7. Thanks for posting, Nik. Extraordinary. The power of that piece is that I felt I knew them both and was losing a friend, and watching someone I cared about in pain.It was said to me once, ‘the most powerful fiction comes if you use your emotions as ‘ink’… giving them to characters to express’ or words to that effect.Unless I cry when writing something ‘sad’. I know it won’t touch the reader.

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