Today’s headlines are meant to grab your attention and inflame your emotions. The top emotions from reading real news tend to be anger and fear. The third option is LOOK AT ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Yes, the multiple exclamation points were appropriate.)
These emotions make many people go into overwhelm mode where they can’t think or react. Overwhelm mode comes from the part of the brain which focuses on emotions.
Here's a brain model we can all understand:
In this model of the brain, we ‘flip our lid' and can’t respond, so our default reaction is to be afraid or fight back. These responses aren't always appropriate, especially when you are not in real life threatening danger.
What does this mean for our emotions?
It means we have to make our emotions, “Law abiding citizens.”
Notice what Sheriff Sam Caine did... he walked up and confronted the outlaws causing trouble. He made the situation and the consequences clear. And then the outlaws calmed down.
We need to do the same for our emotions.
When we make the situation clear - as in - “You are not in danger.”
Think of your mental space as your own town. You have to live there and you are in charge of that space… so you shouldn’t let the news media or others you don't care for or who aren't good for you have control of your town.
Let's take this into writing....
When we write a story, we know we're doing our job as authors when we make a person have emotions so that they’re compelled to finish our story. A reader makes a choice to let you into their town for the purpose of entertainment. You can and do get to manipulate people's emotions through writing, but it must always be done in a manner that brings them to a place where they want to let you into their town again.
Sometimes that means protecting their mental health - sometimes it means exposing lies, sometimes writing means you make them confront their emotions. But whatever you do in your writing remember you are a guest in their mental space - so if at all possible, help them keep their town secure and safe from harm.
Your stories are amazing!
Chronic Writer