Last week I wrestled with a tough emotion to portray in fiction and here's another one, grief/mourning. this might be one of the most personalized of emotions. It's freaking tidal, coming and going with whatever moon your mind is following. I think the difficulty of this emotion is just how different it can be person from person, from all the various lived experiences out there. It's not even necessarily the same within
one person.
Take me for example. Within a year I lost my last two uncles (the only two I was related to by blood) and the grief hits different for both of them. Uncle S died suddenly, unexpectedly, of a heart attack. He was, without a doubt, the more gregarious of my uncles, the 'fun one.' The fourth of July last year was hard because the family always went to his lake house. Mom and I had also been at a rock/gem show the day he died and when that rolled around, neither of us wanted to return so that is a shared bit of grief that maybe in a story might not make sense.
Uncle D was the shy uncle, the introvert who really should have been helped more in school with his learning issues but that wasn't the done thing in the 50s and 60s. The first anniversary of his death is coming in the next few weeks and yet oddly there is a lack of grief when I think about it. It's not that I didn't like this uncle but it is different. Maybe it was the lack of a funeral. Maybe it was how much he pulled away almost as if afraid he had nothing to talk about with me because he wasn't 'smart enough' (no, I know he feared that.)
Even yesterday, I
finally decided to stop being a jackass and answer my 3 month back log of emails/blog comments. I had at least a dozen in there that I owed
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spikedluv. There is so much
regret in that, an emotion that doesn't go with grief alone but it is a big part of it. There is, of course, nothing I can do about that but I am determined to get the rest of the owed comments out in the next few days. I'm avoiding future regret, right? And avoidance is definitely one sign of grief.
I think in many ways, grief isn't necessarily hard to write but the way others perceive it i s where it gets sticky.
For example, I think I wrote grief well in
These Haunted Hills but the book fell flat (though I did just find a great review by someone I'm not sure I know on GR) Ah well (but that's a heart break for another time)
How do you handle grief in fiction?
Open Calls
Story Unlikely This mag pays well BUT you have to subscribe which is free but if you get a paid sub your pay as an author goes up and that, while I understand it, doesn't necessarily sit well with me.
Horror Library Volume 10 Original, thoughtful horror-centric short stories
Folded Space Podcast Science fiction, exploring new worlds, future possibilities, and the enduring human spirit
The Whumpy Printing Press is looking novelette, novella, novel, short story collection, and graphic novel submissions Novelette, novella, novel, short story collection, and graphic novels that fall into the whump genre (i.e. a character needs to be hurt). We’re looking for strong stories with a balance between whump and plot. Ideally science fiction or fantasy (is it possible I DO NOT have a whump story?!?)
Street Magic III Magic. Hiding right under our unsuspecting noses, or swirling around all around us. When we’re talking about Street Magic, it’s probably closer than you think.
SciFi To Go: Food For Thought Funny short stories in the areas of science fiction, fantasy, and horror
86 Opportunities for Historically Underrepresented Writers (February 2026) many of these include LGBT and women in general
From Around the Web
How the Page Thinks: Spatial Intelligence in Writing The Four-Act Structure and the Circular Shape of Story Fix Flat Deep POV: 7 Probing Questions for Better Immersion How to Build an Author Brand That Attracts Readers and Sells Books (Step-by-Step Guide)From Betty
How to Create a Simple Language How to Use Story Structure in Non-Narrative Writing Six Rape Tropes and How to Replace Them Reconciling Character Choices With Your Plot How to Make Your Dark Event Pay Off Using Contradictions to Create Masterful Microtension – Part 2 Setting the Stage with Powerful Description Fix Flat Deep POV: 7 Probing Questions for Better ImmersionHow to Turn Feedback into Action: Understanding Editorial Letters Why Writers Fear and Resist Change (and Characters Do, Too) YouTube for Writers, Part 6: Building Your Author Brand on YouTube Why Every Writer Needs a Critique Group (and the Six Relationships That Shape Your Career) Okay this one is something I have been saying forever. Ignoring the whole God bit (which fine if you're religious great but otherwise I don't feel like it needs to be in this article. This is not for everyone). I do still wish I could get more people into my critique group.
Email List Segmentation for Authors: How to Reach Readers and Increase Sales A BREAKTHROUGH Program for Writers of Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror This is like a college class in a way complete with application fees. It is NOT a cheap opportunity by any means.
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