Has anyone ever depressed themselves while writing?

[Destroyer2000]

Like, if you were writing a particularly sad part of your story, you got depressed over it, and felt bad for the characters?

[ShiroiHikari]

Always.

[Maledicte]

I cried once for a story I never wrote.

[CrimsonRyu17]

I got depressed when I was writing a tragic part in the story I'm writing. maybe it's because you made those characters and it's kinda like you can control what happens to them. and you know you're the one whose actually making something bad happen to them. but then again, it might be because you can sorta relate to your characters. not sure.

[Lynx]

once i got rather depressed while i was writing a depressing poem. nothing lasting, it ended once i was done writing, editing and fixing the poem.

[bigsleepj]

Contantly...

[ClosetOtaku]

"No tears on the writer's face, no tears on the reader's face."

[Fionn Fael]

"No tears on the writer's face, no tears on the reader's face."

I love that quote! It's so true.

I invariably get quite melancholy and admittedly, sometimes tear up when writing certain parts of stories. Maybe it's because I put a little of myself and my friends into all of my characters.

[Bobtheduck]

Yes... I do a lot... I was thinking this was broader, because in writing my NONFICTION (IE emails and blogs) I've cried numerous times, but yes, I've cried in the middle of stories I wrote.

[bigsleepj]

Because I tend to live myself into my writing, I can't really detach myself from it. So I do get emotional when I write. Its a good way to depress oneself. Sometimes though when I describe something beautiful through the eyes of a character then I feel that too. I don't know why - its probably sort of silly - but I think it does help me write, so I'm not really complaining.

[Tarnish]

YES.
Only once though. I had to get rid of a huge plot point so I wouldn't feel so depressed...I'm still in the process of re-writing it. Though even if it comes out good, it won't be nearly as powerful. Oh well.

[Trackball]

Yeah, that happened to me once.

I wrote a story where a guy loses his best friend (and lover) when she gets run over by a drunk driver. (I had based her character on what my perfect girl would be like.)

It was really difficult, since I've never had a girlfriend--or even been on a date...

[Destroyer2000]

Heh. I killed off one of my characters...and yes, I agree, I put myself and others into my characters. I can really relate to my main character. He reacts the same way I would in most situations.

[uc pseudonym]

Generally speaking, no. I don't write that way.

There was, however, an odd and similar occurance. A villain was trying to convince the protagonist of the righteousness of his cause and I realized that I couldn't find a fault with his argument. In my world, with its variety of circumstances, he was right about things, though eventually I found a few flaws in his logic. It took me a while to get over this and keep writing.

[oro!]

Sometimes I do when I tell my stories. That's why you sometimes have to get out of your own head and see what earth is really like...beautiful...dangerous...etc.

[fairyprincess90]

Oooh yeah... i def. do. yup

[Ssjjvash]

I did that a few times before--when I was fighting depression. I never do it anymore though.

[creed4]

yes, depend on the work

[Linksquest]

Yes, definately. I think having an emotional connection with a story and its characters can often lead to better writing. Sometimes drawing upon my own personal experiences which were emotional for me allows me to better create situations and personalitiy traits for my characters. When I was writing a story I actually began weeping because it was such a sad situation... one that I had a deep connection to.

[Zarn Ishtare]

*looks over at Angel37*

"Ooh, ask her, ask her!"


*Runs away*

[Animus Seed]

In my story "Image" (posted here for all to see [/shameless self-plug]), the beginning starts off with Adam and Eve... and I keep putting off the scene where (SPOILER ALERT) they eat from the Tree, because it depresses me, but I can't leave it out, either.