1. Empathic writing

4. Empathic means Empathy
Empathy means being able ‘to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.’ To be able to understand what they are thinking, feeling and experiencing.
In a sense, empathic writing asks you to ‘be them’, to write as though you are that character/person.
Empathic means Empathy

5. Starter task
Pretend you are your favourite pet. Write a first-person story through the eyes of your pet about a wild adventure he or she went on/a day in the life of your pet.
Try to make your pet come alive – what would they be thinking and feeling when you leave for the day? Try to convey their ‘easily distracted’ state of mind.
Example:
Has she left me already? I wonder, if I eat my breakfast really quickly, will I be able to catch her by the time she leaves? She beats me every – single – morning! This time I’ll eat as fast as anything and catch her right before she leaves! Then I’ll bat my big brown eyes (my secret weapon), wag my tail as fast as I can, and she will just have to stay with me today. But oh this kangaroo is so delicious this morning…

6. What are empathic responses?
They are creative or empathetic pieces of writing that explore a specific moment/s through the eyes of a particular character.
They share knowledge of the incident or awareness of the situation
You do not retell the story
Present tense - write your current thoughts (Immediately after the event)
Refer to previous events that have contributed to your current state of mind
You share your personal thoughts as you interpret them for the character
The style of writing must be specific to the character (COLLOQUIAL LANGUAGE/SLANG)- e.g. for a Greaser, you would need to adjust your writing to make it authentic. Consider the way Two-Bit speaks “You must make such interestin conversation, you keepin’ your mouth shut and Johnny not sayin’ anything”

8. Empathy Circle

9. Tips Start with a hook – or interesting idea/thought trail
Use language used by the character –this adds authenticity
Make sure your ending reveals important revelations about identity
Discuss how you feel – don’t over assume what the character would be feeling
Express thoughts and emotions – they should connect in some way – though may be erratic if your character is angry, confused
Include language devices – rhetorical questions, similes
Emotions and thoughts need to make sense (be plausible) and have stemmed from a particular part of the text.
Reveal future intentions – much like foreshadowing: hint to events that you know will happen in the future.

11. Darry: After Ponyboy and Johnny decide to run away (chapter 3) – Sample B from 2017
 I didn’t mean to hit Ponyboy – it was all of a sudden. I did it, without thinking twice! I was just so worried about him. I would never hurt him, he’s my brother and I love him, even if I may not show it all the time. I guess I’ve taken on the father role since pa died, but I’ve failed miserably. Our father would never hit us; he would have talked it through. I want Ponyboy to love me like he used to, but now I’m afraid I have lost him forever. If only I thought before I acted, Ponyboy would be with us and I could sleep soundly later knowing he is safe. Pony is the m0st vulnerable in the group, innocent like an innocent sleeping child. He is the youngest brother in the family, and it’s my job to protect him. I could really do with a weed to calm me down right now, but it is not the time for one. I need to think about my brother that I may have lost forever. He is out there by himself, alone and I don’t know what’s going to happen to him. What if he gets hurt? What if he doesn’t come back? What if he runs away? What if he never forgives me? If I had been a better brother to him he wouldn’t be so hacked off and he would still be at home, safe in bed and our family would be ok. Darn, if only I weren’t a greaser, he wouldn’t be involved in this whole mess! A mess of my own doing. I hope the fuzz comes to put me in the cooler because I don’t deserve being free; I don’t deserve anything. I just want to make tracks as fast as I can and get out of this stinking world that has caused me so much grief. I am a failure! I can’t believe I did this! I am so outraged I could just rumble for my life. Now because I have lost Ponyboy it means I ‘ve lost my life.