Writing with anger in mind

So, what makes you angry? Not being listened to? Broken promises? Unfair comments or actions? When we are seething, we often say things we don’t mean, get our facts muddled and alienate people. If you are angry about a personal or social injustice you need to take care of yourself first and the situation second. Writing can help you do just that.

1. Thrash it out!

What has upset you? An unfair assessment or decision? Discrimination against you or your community? Bad service or a personal insult? When we are upset it is sometimes difficult to pinpoint the heart of the thing that has made us so enraged. Start by finding a quiet place to sit down and write about what has happened and how it has made you feel. This piece of work is strictly for your eyes only. Put down your thoughts and emotions however you want to. Then, set your writing aside for a couple of days until you feel a little calmer.

2. Rip it up!

Re-read the words you wrote a few days ago. Are there things that you can add now you are feeling more composed? Perhaps there are personal expressions of emotion which you would rather leave out? Next, speak your words aloud. Ask yourself, ‘How am I feeling now?’

Sometimes simply putting your initial anger onto paper, waiting a while and then reading it out is enough to give a sense of release and closure. After all, not everything that upsets and outrages us deserves our energy. If that is the case, you have my permission to rip up your seething prose and throw it in the bin! But, if you still want to use words to express your feelings and fuel change, read on …

3. Write it up!

Hopefully time and the initial free-form writing process has enabled you to separate the facts of your situation from your personal emotions. Consider the type of information your audience needs in order to understand your point of view. That probably means a summary of the issue, not a novel about it! How can you frame your own experience to carry the most impact? How are you going to best represent your views - by penning a letter to an individual, reviewing a product, writing a blog post, or in some other way?

Speak in haste repent at leisure, as the old saying goes. It’s not easy to spit out the right words when you are gnashing your teeth. So, the best advice has to be, when you are at your most angry take the most time. Allow your thoughts to settle. Wait for quiet to descend. Write when you are ready.

Write about what makes you angry.