Visceral Writing
Posted on | April 25, 2010 | 4 Comments
I use the word “visceral” often to describe writing, or, at least, a certain kind of writing. What, exactly, do I mean by that word?
Webster’s On-Line dictionary defines visceral thus:
vis cer al adj. \’vi-sə-rəl, ‘vis-rəl\
- felt in or as if in the viscera : deep “a visceral conviction”
- not intellectual : instinctive, unreasoning “visceral drives”
- dealing with crude or elemental emotions : earthy “a visceral novel”
- of, relating to, or located on or among the viscera : splanchnic “visceral organs”
Viscera, used in the first and last definition, means gut, so visceral writing is writing that is felt in the gut. Definition two implies that it is instinctive rather than intellectual, it isn’t experienced by reason, so it isn’t necessarily experienced in the head. Definition three talks about the more base or rude type of writing that might be found in Harlequin Romances and other soft-core porn, so, although I’m not opposed to that kind of communicating, it’s not exactly what I mean.
What I mean when I use this word is writing that uses the senses, that uses experiences in the body to communicate a circumstance or idea.
Why is visceral writing more effective than intellectual or cerebral writing? This question assumes that the two are mutually exclusive, which I say isn’t so. However, intellectual and cerebral writing can communicate much better if it also includes the visceral. The reason is that as human beings we first started experiencing the world through our senses, through the impressions we felt in our gut rather than the conclusions we made in our brain. As we grew older, many of us learned to trust the brain more than the gut, and many of us were encouraged in that by our teachers and mentors. However, even then, no matter how much we deny it, our feelings influence our mind.
Our language supports this: “We feel it in our gut” means we know it’s right. When we are moved by a story, it “hits us in the gut”.
Many studies that looked at how we decide things conclude that we make our decisions first in our gut or instinct, more immediately, and then we use our brains to understand or justify that derision. Why not bypass that understanding and justification and go straight for the gut?
Werner Erhartdt even went as far as to say that, “Understanding is the booby prize.” Whatever you think of him, I agree with that. In Michael Novak’s philosophical work, Ascent of the Mountain, Flight of the Dove, he talks about those who have had an experience (here he’s talking about a religious or transcendent experience.) He posits that philosophy evolved to understand and explain such experiences, then grew to the point where these who studied them began to look down on those who actually experienced them. Then he argues passionately (that is a very visceral word) that the experience itself is much more powerful than the understanding of it.
I use the word visceral in regards to good writing because I believe feeling something is much more powerful than simply understanding it.
~Geoff Hoff
Co-author of the how-to guide On Writing a Short Story.
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April 25th, 2010 @ 2:42 pm
I notice how you love that word, though I’m not gutsy enough to use it so far.
The way that you write with feeling and emotion provokes a powerful and visceral reaction that inspires me to carefully consider my writing habits…
Oh Wow! I did it! I used visceral in a sentence. Who knows what fascinating stories might soon pour forth from my unfettered soul.
Thanks for your fine examples!
.-= Mike Sweezy´s last blog ..Breakfast Gratitude =-.
April 25th, 2010 @ 2:48 pm
December 8th, 2010 @ 3:06 pm
I came across your definition for visceral writing after catching the word in the notes of the movie Inception and becoming curious. I’ve been writing my first novel for 5+ years now and reading your article was enlightening! Thank you for it : )
December 8th, 2010 @ 4:48 pm
Don – I’m very glad you found the site and the definition. I’m sure if you lurk around here and jump around, there may be other posts that get your mind and imagination moving in new and interesting ways.
Congrats on working on the first novel. I would be interested to hear your progress as you go.
Geoff