Writing about tragedy for your next novel? Are you finding it difficult to convey your characters mental struggles? See the vision to completion. Take these ideas past the obstacles that block your creative path!

Separate the Mental From the Physical Struggles

We have all experienced some part of tragedy in our lives. We hear disastrous times on the news, tragic endings in movies and read through depressing chapters in a book.

We see people endure Physical Struggles, such as learning to walk again after a car accident. But, by just looking at someone we may not fully understand the height of their mental struggles.

We might already know, but writing out how we are feeling on the inside, in our mind, is not always easy when we are feeling pain throughout our body.

For me, personally experiencing trauma to my body and head in a car accident, mental and physical struggles competed on a daily basis to challenge my character, what defined me!

While interviewing the main character, my mom, for my up and coming book Donna Jean she tells not only about her physical abuse growing up but the mental abuse. This mental abuse has followed her throughout her entire life.

What to take from this- My mom, Donna Jean, raised her family showing love and security even though she was not raised with one encouraging word of praise, hugs or kisses. By asking questions, she is able to share her most intimate difficult moments and how she has grown stronger, building a strong family connection and relationship with the Lord.

Mental Struggle Symptoms

When we break down and separate Mental Struggles from Physical Struggles what our Character Is Truly Experiencing is better defined on the pages of our novel for our readers!

• Confused
• Forgetful
• Hallucinates
• Mood such as Feeling Irritable
• Depression
• Struggles With Conversation and Interacting in Relationships
• Normal Sleep Pattern Interrupted

The Challenge- Dissect Your Characters Mental State

After a tragedy occurs, the brain takes control over our body. There is a healing process and different stages of our mental state. When writing your characters feelings take the challenge to dissect their mental state from a few days, months and years after the accident.

If we haven’t actually experienced mental struggles from a tragedy or helped a loved one during this time, the challenge is real when analyzing your characters emotions, intentions or pain.

From personal experience, my mind went to a different place for a long time. Suffering from Persistent Post-Concussive Symptoms, I needed family and friends to take care of and check on me continually. But, everyone has to work and take care of their own life. This meant I sat staring for hours.

During these hours, a vision of people in silhouette and their faces stayed close by. From these faces, a story began to form that is in it’s final stages called Light Through The Willow. Check out my: New Book Coming Soon: Light Through the Willows

As Always, Happy Writing And Reading!