For me my best writing comes from emotion, feeling empathy for my characters, understanding their needs and who they are. Have you ever written about a character who sulks? Think about it, the opportunities to discover the inner workings of their mind. Why are they sulking? What is it they want? What is it they need? What’s happening to them inside? Why are they choosing to sulk?
Have you sulked, as a child, as an adult? Do you know someone who sulks, a child maybe? Sulking like any behaviour is a choice made by a fully formed, functioning and healthy adult mind. Sulking in children is another matter.
As I child I often sulked. This is why:
Sulking = Something is Wrong
Sulking is an expression of the spirit. I knew something wasn’t right at home. Children do, they have an in-built barometer to these things (to abuse), but they aren’t capable of fully comprehending their emotions, expressing themselves or doing anything about it
Sulking = Pain
Not the pain of an aching tooth or a stubbed toe, but a pain deep down inside that cannot be seen or described, certainly not by a child
Sulking = Unexpressed Anger
Anger at not being able to communicate the pain inside. Anger at my mother. Anger at my grandparents for not listening, not believing, not understanding, not noticing what my mother was doing to me
Sulking = I Want to Hurt my Mother
I thought I could hurt my mother by hiding myself away, by sulking. Did it work? No. I was only hurting myself.
Sulking = Come and Find Me
I needed to be cared for. I craved attention. I needed my Mother. I was the only one, no siblings. I had no Father. My Mother lived with her friend. I didn’t like her friend. Her friend didn’t like me.
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I used to sulk as an adult too but this was a long time ago.
Now I choose to express myself. I choose to communicate. I choose to love myself and find what feels good. I take care of my needs.
Take the challenge in your writing. Write about a character who sulks.
LIHazleton.
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