Suffering Safely (A Love Letter)
In which we review the world-changing importance of your writing
Mindset, motivation and inspiration for writers, with a dash of instruction about writing craft added in, from novelist, writing coach and workshop leader Charlotte Rains Dixon. I also carry on a lot about process, because: there’s no one approach to writing that works for everyone. But I can help you find what works for you. I love all of my readers, every single one of you and I’m truly grateful when you read my work and connect with me. Subscribe to get the fuel you need for your writing career. I truly adore all my readers, and a paid subscription helps my bring these words to you.
Hello Lovies,
Last Saturday night I lay awake, the hub sleeping soundly beside me, listening to the sound of fireworks, gunshots (though I didn’t know this until the next morning and they were shot into the sky, nobody hurt), and another weird grinding sound that took me a few groggy moments to identify. Finally, I got it: cars doing wheelies. There was a street takeover at a busy intersection a few blocks from me.
It was creepy and a little scary because it was so close and if people are idiotic enough to block off streets so they can do wheelies and fireworks and shoot guns into the air who knows what else they are stupid enough to do? But, honestly, I wasn’t in any real danger, except of being sleepy the next day.
And then, the next day. I delighted in telling people who hadn’t heard it about it. What a martyr I was—I lay awake, heart pounding, listening to the commotion while everyone else slept. I was the only one who had been close to danger! I was the one to tell the tale! My brush with greatness made me the important one!
Later in the day, the phrase suffering safely popped into my head. That is what I was doing, suffering safely. I got to be the storyteller about the conflict, all while maintaining a safe distance. And it occurred to me that that is what we writers do. We allow our readers to suffer safely while we tell them stories.
We suffer danger when reading mysteries and thrillers. We suffer the vicissitudes of love when we read romances. We suffer boredom when we read academic tomes. Kidding. But you see where I’m going. And, further, there is this:
There’s actually some science to this. We are allowing our readers to experience these emotional states without them actually having to go live them. Here’s a quote from a NYT article (guest link).
Brain scans are revealing what happens in our heads when we read a detailed description, an evocative metaphor or an emotional exchange between characters. Stories, this research is showing, stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life.
And, further, there is this:
The novel, of course, is an unequaled medium for the exploration of human social and emotional life. And there is evidence that just as the brain responds to depictions of smells and textures and movements as if they were the real thing, so it treats the interactions among fictional characters as something like real-life social encounters.
I mean, honestly, how cool is this? How often have you, as a writer, despaired that your vocation is not as important as, say ,brain surgery or being leader of the free world because all you are doing is entertaining people? As if that’s not a big enough deal in this insane world, but how delightful that your fictional imaginations are now proven to actually impact people.
When readers read, their brains think they are experiencing what they are reading IRL. We are doing some heavy lifting here, people. Not only suffering for them, but laughing, crying, praying, failing, succeeding, learning, changing, drinking too much, abstaining, dieting, falling, getting up and starting over again.
Phew! I’m exhausted. But I’m also elated. Because no longer do you or I need to believe that writing is just a silly hobby (even if you are already a pro). It’s heavy lifting, important work for the good of humanity.
And so we all better quit reading and get back to work.
Love, light, and good writing,
Charlotte
P.S. Tell me what you’re writing—and reading.
Resources
Romance bookstores are booming all across the country.
Fascinating infographics on the authors who are most mentioned in crossword puzzles over the last century-ish
Do pen names make sense in the age of AI?
Books
Building a Story Brand: Clarify Your Message so Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller. I bought this a couple weeks ago on the advice of my coach. (I’ve been working on nailing my branding.) And, of course, then it sat on my desk, glaring at me and making me feel guilty for not picking it up. Finally, I did. And—it’s great. Written clearly and with humor, and not a lot of business jargon mumbo-jumbo.
The Paris Novel, by Ruth Reichl. We assigned two books for our France participants. This one, and Reichl’s first memoir, Tender at the Bone. I’m starting off with the novel and it’s so much fun. Set in Paris in the early 80s, the food descriptions alone will have you swooning. But the story is good, too. Update: Almost finished and my copy of Tender at the Bone arrived so I’m excited about that.
Overseas Workshops—Space Available!
Late-breaking news: last-minute cancellations for both France and Italy leave us with space available. Does one of them belong to you?
Blog posts on our website will tell you all about the location of our France workshop and why we love it so much. You can read about art and artists in Céret, the crazy annual footrace there, and best of all, the wonderful local bakeries. Nab your spot now. And here is the promised interview with our guest resident Angela M. Sanders (written by the wonderful Shari Lane, whose book is also wonderful!)
And here is the most recent blog post about Perugia. (Update: it’s filling up fast. We’ve had several writers sign up. There’s still space, but you need to act quickly.) To tempt you further, here’s the villa where we are staying.
Other places to connect with me:
My website (badly in need of an upgrade)
Our workshop website
My original blog (now for archive purposes only, no longer updated)
Ways I can help you:
Book coaching
Manuscript evaluation
Mindset coaching
(While I get my coaching site up and running, reply to this email for more info, or leave a comment if you’re interested. Can’t wait to talk to you.)
I so appreciate every set of eyes that lands on this newsletter. If you enjoy what you read here, I’d love it if you shared it with others who might also. Thank you!
And if you don’t already you can subscribe or upgrade to paid. I’ll love you either way!
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This is such an affirmation, Charlotte! I feel this way about songs, too. Thank you for this.
Helpful, timely, and wise. Thank you, Charlotte!!