Is anyone else searching for a feeling?

[Slummypond]

With their writing and art I mean?

I’ve noticed over the years that the stories and artworks that most viscerally affect me all have something in common; a thread that resonates with me.

It’s a mixture of wonder and melancholy, and the feeling that you’re not important? Idk, It’s hard to describe, but I want to write stories that construct this feeling in other people. That’s what I mean when I say I’m searching for it.

In all my notes I refer to this mix of emotions as “THAT emotion”, and it’s become this overarching quest in my artistic life to break it down and figure out the ingredients that go into making it.

It’s a hunt! And I already know it’s going to be a lifelong thing; I always have my antennae tuned in the background, waiting to pick up on a clue that might lead me to a breakthrough! it’s not the ONLY emotion I want to elicit in people when they engage with my work, I want them to be sad and angry and hyped and whatever else, but it is the thing that everything I do artistically is aimed towards.

The mangaka Hirohiko Araki (famous for Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure) said in his book that going for a feeling was for the masters. I couldn’t agree more. Who Killed the Dreaming Girl? is the first comic that I’m serious about, but I’m not consciously aiming for “THAT emotion” - I just want it to be fun and easy to read (baby steps people). However; by virtue of being created by me, when the credits roll there will be a chip of “THAT emotion” buried somewhere in the comic, and that’s what I’ll take with me to the next project!

Slowly by slowly, I’ll put together the ingredients and in time I’ll be able to reliably construct that feeling in another person. When that happens I’ll consider myself a success!

I’m really curious to know if other people have an equivalent to “THAT emotion”; some high level goal they’re aiming at; something they’re searching for through their art and writing,.. let me know below.

[Rodimus13]

Not that emotion specifically. But I want people to be moved. To feel for the characters and worry for them. To celebrate or boo them. I try to go for what makes ME feel it. What makes ME start to tear up as if the character was real. Sometimes when I'm writing I treat it like they are real and telling me their story so I feel what is there more, and then can express it better.

Do I succeed? Sometimes I think. With the help of my husbands artwork. But yeah... I don't think you can get that feeling unless you have it for your work yourself, like the "mother" for vinegar. You can make more with a small piece of it, but with none at all it's very hard to make more.

Hope I am making sense.

[JRHoch]

Yes, a feeling, a mood, a sense that my characters say and feel things that are real and reflect the way they see the world. A mix of melancholy, madness, mayhem, and yearning.

Afterlifer | Tapas

[kaiyaweird]

Yes! I think I know what you mean (if not the exact same emotion)! I feel like with my stories I'm trying to elicit that certain something....like what you said:

a mixture of wonder and melancholy

I get so hyped when I read a story that inspires this feeling in me, and ever since I first encountered it I've wanted to create something inspired that feeling in others. I don't think I'm anywhere near close to doing it at this point in my journey. But I imagine it is something I will be constantly shooting for.

[Penni]

Well, I would say that I'm aiming to achieve what you said at the start of your post. To create something that resonates with the reader.

But that can mean different things. Sure, I want to try and invoke certain emotions with certain scenes, but overall, I want the reader to feel something (except boredom )

I think it's something I'm still trying to accomplish. I often will stare at the screen and wonder if I'll strike the cord I want to when the person reads it. Sometimes I know I get it when readers leave comments (Which is in part why I love comments).

[nathanKmcwilliams]

With mine I want to instill a feeling that helps people find a drive to overcome whatever hard circumstances they're going through.

I do want to try and put a spin on the world that makes things feel dark and impossible, but the main character combats this with his own strong will, drive, and personality.
He just doesn't give up, no matter what I'll throw at him. (And believe me, I've got some stuff lined up that's gonna serve the pain xD)

All that said, if there's one feeling I want to get across, it's determination. Secondary is the sensation of victory when you finally conquer a hard situation.

[Hexigate]

Aiming for a feeling is always a great way to write stories. Emotions are the essence of any stories, right?

I think that the kind of feelings I want to get through my stories are different variations of the dynamic between grandeur and intimacy. I have a racing story idea that goes for both high-energy spectacle and reflective calm. A short film I made pits an otherworldly, guiding light alongside reflection and self-actualization in the dark. And my comic plays (well, is meant to play) with both senses of fantastical adventure and everyday life; with both a hope for the world and a lack thereof; with seeing both a grand, mystical world and the regular people that live in it; and with seeing extraordinary things come from rather ordinary places.

I guess I like opposites colliding and working together.

[Drewbie]

That connection. The one that you get with even the little characters. Either the utter hatred or the unwilling hope. Even if they only speak once you still can't help but love and pity them. I want my readers to find a sense of themselves in at least one character.

Another thing I'm also looking for is that feeling you of the world falling away around you as you vividly image whats the characters fighting. You can feel your own heartrate syncing with the flow of the battle in your mind as you cling to every word waiting to finally see the outcome.

[rajillustration]

I feel like that emotion is the hardest thing to get onto paper. Like I can visualize a scene pretty good and I can get it down--but to get down the feeling along with it from my brain to the paper, so you feel sort of like you're there, like you're in a way experiencing whatever it is...that's my goal but is so hard to do correctly. I feel like that's the master's touch.

[carloswebcomic]

Why search for a feeling when you can borrow it?

[simplykit]

hmm now that you mentioned it yes... a certain feeling of satisfaction...
to be whole... to explode... definitely not gonna be easy to achieve but ill soldier on

[vothnthorvaldson]

Nostalgia, and that very peculiar 'rich and multiple' ambiance emanating from multicultural places.

This rarely fails to grip me. It's also something that is at least somewhat present in sll my stories.

[Slummypond]

Totally. I think what separates a master from a pleb is their ability to know how to firstly pin point exactly what emotion they want to elicit, and then secondly know exactly what steps they need to take to get there.

[basil_kunn]

This really got me thinking, so I went and wrote down the feelings behind my current WIP, as well as some works of fiction that I really enjoyed, and I think I've figured out (and named) some of the "THAT emotion"s that always get me.

There's the feeling of "if only", where the story makes you think about "if only this happened" or "if only that never happened". Where you long for something different. You feel a lot of regret.
Bittersweet nostalgia, which is too complicated for me to describe, but it's kinda like nostalgia, where you feel "homesick" for the past, plus bittersweet, where things are happy but with sad undertones I guess??
And then there's morbid beauty, where something is disturbing yet beautiful at the same time. Like a sad or violent scene, but you can still find the beauty in it.

Thinking too much about emotions really hurt my brain ;-;

[Azifri]

Uncertainty, helplessness, and the background feel that there is something ominous out there. Also individuality, not sure how to explain it, but all the characters have their own story and reasons as to why they do the things they do; hopefully this will add different tones to the story. That's the goal at least ^^