will you get affect by your story emotionally? For example, do you become sad or happy about the characters. So do you change some pieces of the story because of your affections?
I think it's inevitable that a writer gets emotional about their story, and the writing will probably be better for it. But I would never change the course of events because I can't stand to hurt my characters.
The only case, where I would change the course of the story, because of emotinal ties, is if I could think of an even better plot.
I find that I am less affected emotionally by what I write than when I first started. In my first attempt at a novel, my MC died a painful death. I waited until no one was home before I wrote it and I cried afterward. But I think as you write more, you develop a certain sense of detachment. Maybe you have to do that in order to keep a proper perspective on what you're writing.
I think when it comes to it, I do what I need to do. I can't detach myself, the way @EdFromNY can but I can see how doing so could help a writer keep an objective outlook. My WIP has certainly taken its toll in that respect. As I've refined my story, I've had to make some decisions that have made me feel awful for a time, but once I gain a bit of distance, I realise I was right to go with what my head was telling me, rather than what I felt in my heart. Maybe when I get a bit more experienced, it'll get easier. I hope so.
I've been sad many times, but I've cried only once, but the scene was rather hammed-up, so... @Poziga. No, he's a sadist. He drinks our tears to fuel himself for the next character death.
@Thomas Kitchen I agree you. I've often suspected he gets off on our pain. If only he'd get his ass into gear and complete Winds of Winter. There's more chance my WIP will be done and dusted by the time that happens.
there have been times when what i'm writing has caused an emotional reaction, especially if i've based the event on something in my own life, but it hasn't caused me to change anything... why should it?
