Wednesday, May 1, 2019

IWSG & The Power of Story

The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. He, his clones, minions, friends, and fellow authors make it an amazing event every month.



Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

And we’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive! Every month, we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.

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May 1 question - What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

Great question!

One of my earliest memories of the power of the written word was when I read Little Women.

Major Spoiler Directly Ahead!

In the book, one of the characters, Beth, dies. It was the first time I'd read about the death of a character. It was the first time fiction ripped into my soul and cracked my heart.

Devastated, I sobbed, raced through the book, and started it again.

Maybe this time, Beth would be okay.

I was obviously pretty young - young enough to hope that the words might have magically changed, that this character I loved would live.

Not sure I ever looked at fiction the same way again. The power of story continued to lure me, but I kept one eye on the author, wondering what choice he or she would make. And why.

How about you? Do you remember that first tragedy that you read?The first book that broke your heart?

62 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The first death and tragedy - now that's a poignant moment.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Hoping the story would change somehow - I've reread books for the same reason.

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Although the material is sad, this is a wonderful memory and a useful tool that shows the importance and power of words. Thank you for sharing!

Michelle Wallace said...

I can't really remember the first book that broke my heart, but I do remember the Anne Of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery which made a huge impression on me, and which I devoured as a teenage girl.
Happy IWSG Day, Jemi!

The Cynical Sailor said...

I sobbed and sobbed when I read Little Women. Gosh, you've brought a ton of childhood memories back with this post. I loved the other books in the series too. Just devoured them as a kid.

cleemckenzie said...

I'd forgotten all about Little Women and the reaction I had to Beth's death. I think that may have been the first character I'd ever read about that died, too. Thanks, Jemi.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Oh my gosh, I loved Little Women!

That was probably the first tragic death I read. The first one I *saw* was Bambi in the theater at 6. I don't think I've recovered...

Tyrean Martinson said...

Bambi - that's the first book I remember really hitting me hard. I had seen the Disney movie and it didn't prepare me for the heartbreak in the book. And nearly anything by Hans Christian Anderson - he wrote some tough fairy tales.

emaginette said...

Congrats on your win, Jemi!

I never found tragedy when I read, but I was looking for escape and spend time with Tolkien, Herbert, and Heinlein.

Anna from elements of emaginette

Sadira Stone said...

Let's see--my first literary death must've been an animal, maybe Old Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows?

Christine Rains said...

I still remember a horror book (the series was called Twilight, but not like sparkly vampire Twilight; more like Goosebumps but the books were bigger) called Vicious Circle. In it, the kid protagonist is haunted by a boy who it turned out was abused and killed by his parents and buried under the front porch along with other dead kids. Perhaps not the best topic for a 7 or 8 year old child to be reading, but it grabbed me so hard. I wanted those dead kids to be avenged, to live happy lives. They never got their happy ending and it devastated me.

Jemi Fraser said...

It really is. I've never forgotten that moment!

Jemi Fraser said...

It's funny how we believe that! I'm still tempted with some stories :)

Jemi Fraser said...

It was powerful! And my memory of childhood is very fuzzy - except for a few moments of startling clarity like this one

Jemi Fraser said...

I adore Anne!!! Read the series multiple times. And every time I read it, Mathew's death flattens me. Another death that has haunted me over the years.

Jemi Fraser said...

Me too. Although it took me a while to try the next books because I was so afraid Jo was going to die next!

Jemi Fraser said...

It was such a devastating moment!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

I did as well!
And Bambi ... still have a hard time with that one too.

Jemi Fraser said...

Bambi ripped my heart out as well!
I was a little older when I read HCA so I think that helped - they're not as imprinted on my heart!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Anna!
I loved those books too - although I was quite a bit older when I found them. Just finished a re-read of LotR last week. So good!

Jemi Fraser said...

Oh - heartbreak!!!
Still can't go back to Ol' Yeller!
I didn't read Red Fern until I was an adult - and I still bawled like a baby at the ending!

Jemi Fraser said...

No kidding!! They totally deserved a happy ending!
I used to have nightmares about what was hidden beneath our front porch ... wonder if I read those books along the way too!

Meka James said...

It's amazing the impact stories can have on us. They can bring you great joy and equally great sadness.

Jemi Fraser said...

They can! Well written stories stay with us for a long time!

Natalie Aguirre said...

I'm not sure which was the first tragedy that I read about but I loved Little Women as a kid.

Chrys Fey said...

When I read "Beth," I thought of my character Beth and was like, "But she's still alive." Then I got it. lol That moment in Little Women still breaks my heart.

Yvonne Ventresca said...

Books can affect us so vividly! I'm glad you shared this memory.

Anonymous said...

Charlotte's Web comes to mind. I have arachnaphobia big time, but I loved Charlotte and was sad when she died. That said, spiders are still not welcome in my house, no matter what their names are.

LD Masterson said...

The first I remember that broke my heart was when Ginger died in Black Beauty.

Jemi Fraser said...

I did too - despite the heartbreak.

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - yep, that other Beth! :)
It does to me as well, so sad.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Yvonne, it's a pretty powerful one for me

Jemi Fraser said...

Strangely I didn't read C's web until I was an adult - still struggled with tears over that one!
I'm okay with spiders, but my sister is your soul mate :)

Jemi Fraser said...

That is my mom's favourite book! We were just talking about it today - she has dementia and doesn't remember everything but she loved that book!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

It was tragic when Beth died!!!

Jemi Fraser said...

It really was!!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

It was probably an animal book. Maybe Bambi. The book was not like the Disney movie.

Mason Canyon said...

I can't remember the first book I read that drew me back to reread hoping for a different ending, but I do enjoy those types of stories. The author has made the characters so real you feel you know them as friends.

Arlee Bird said...

That's a great example. Not sure what was the first thing I read, but I recall when our teacher read Charlotte's Web aloud in class over a period of several days. I still recall how sad/happy/touched I felt at the end of the story.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Doreen McGettigan said...

OMGoodness that was so tragic! My first memory of tragedy was when President Kennedy was assassinated. Every adult in my life, everywhere was devastated. I remember feeling so sad for Caroline because we were the same age.

Jemi Fraser said...

It was NOT like the movie - and I was devastated with that one too!

Jemi Fraser said...

Exactly! And losing a friend is so awful!! Beth was so very real to me, I just couldn't believe it

Jemi Fraser said...

It's a beautiful story! I didn't read that until I was an adult - and it still touched me deeply!

Jemi Fraser said...

Oh! That's a biggie!!! Those universal tragedies hit deep and hard!

DMS said...

That is a great example! Such a powerful story.
~Jess

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Jess!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

The power of words. (big sigh.) They are powerful indeed.

Teresa

Juneta key said...

I was an adult when I had a book affect that badly. It was Star Wars A New Jedi Order Vector Prime by R. A Salvatore. A beloved characters dies. I cried for two days and every time I thought about for a while. I was made too. So this new change in SW not so bad because that character still lives although they killed another one, dang them, but oddly it did not affect me as harshly,maybe because of the other experience.

Nick Wilford said...

I don't know about the first tragedy I read, but this definitely goes to show the deeply powerful impact we can make just with words. Quite a responsibility!

Jemi Fraser said...

They truly are!

Jemi Fraser said...

Maybe - it's devastating when a beloved character dies. I'm still not over quite a few of them

Jemi Fraser said...

It really is! Words wield so much power, and we wield the words .. little scary!

Carol Kilgore said...

I don't remember the first book that affected me that way. Words definitely have power. Happy May!

Jemi Fraser said...

Happy May indeed! We finally have a few daffodils and tulips showing their faces! :)

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Beth's death was devastating. First time a book broke my heart was probably Where the Red Fern Grows. I sobbed myself sick over that one.

LD Masterson said...

I'm sorry your mom has dementia. I lost my mom to Alzheimer's. It's very hard. God bless you both.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Linda. It's a devastating disease. I'm so sorry about your mom. Hugs

Jemi Fraser said...

It really was devastating. I didn't read Red Fern until I was an adult and I still sobbed my heart out. Anne. *sigh*

Nasreen said...

I read so many books and some do stand out for me. Happy May, Jemi! I saw flowers are blooming now your way!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Nas. Yes, they are finally (FINALLY!!) blooming! Hope you're home safe and sound from your trip - loved the pics!

Dawn Simon said...

Interesting question! I think I first learned language had power with spoken language (as opposed to written). Charlotte's Web was probably the first book that made me feel deeply.

Jemi Fraser said...

Spoken language impacts us so greatly and so early!
I didn't read C's Web until I was an adult - I'd have been a mess reading it as a kid!