I have been rewriting and working with my critique partner and I’m seeing a pattern in how I write. I am not emotionally involved with my characters. Well, not exactly true. I’m emotionally involved with them in my head, but it’s not translating to the page.
This is frustrating because I can’t seem to break through and make what’s on my head get on the page. I’m not sure what the problem is.
Now I’ve been conditioned by my day job to keep things factual, unemotional, and to the point. I write a lot of technical documentation. I’ve done this on and off for 25 years. Now I need to break through this mental block and pour out things on the page and it’s like pulling teeth.
I’m at a loss what to do? The plot is solid, the characters are motivated, the story seems believable, but flat on the page. So I’m sending out an S.O.S. asking for suggestions. How do you get deeply, emotionally involved with your characters? Are there books on this topic?
I’d appreciate any help I can get!