The brainchild of Arlee Bird, at Tossing it Out
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Just to remind readers what I’m doing here, I’m reposting my earlier explanation. Here ’tis!
As a writer, my real tools are the words in my language. Fortunately, English has a ton–with more being added everyday. You can see where this is going, right? My favorite words from AtoZ. Okay, stop the sniggering. I’m not as creative as some, so give me a break, take a look and add your favorite word in your comment. I can always use more words.
Harrowing
How would you use this word in one of your stories, or would you? What’s harrowing for you anyway? Do you feel more harrowed by reading the reports of real events in the real world, or by Stephen King’s latest weird adventure in the land of fiction? Here’s a film that gives me the true feeling of what a harrowing experience is. Ever seen The Deep? I only thought I’d see the opening of this video about the making of that film, but I had to watch it all. Incredibly harrowing.
This harrowing experience brought to you by:
The Madlab Post (Nicole Ayers)
Tossing It Out (Arlee Bird)
Amlokiblogs (Damyanti Biswas)
Alex J. Cavanaugh (Alex J. Cavanaugh)
Life is Good (Tina Downey)
Cruising Altitude 2.0 (DL Hammons)
Retro-Zombie (Jeremy Hawkins)
The Warrior Muse (Shannon Lawrence)
The QQQE (Matthew MacNish)
Leave it to Livia (Livia Peterson)
No Thought 2 Small (Konstanz Silverbow)
Breakthrough Blogs (Stephen Tremp)
Spunk on a Stick (L. Diane Wolfe)
We also have a Facebook page, email address [email protected], and the Twitter hashtag is #AtoZChallenge. HERE’s THE LIST.
Sophie Duncan says
Real world is definitely more harrowing than fiction for me, because I can always retreat from fiction, but real world events are actually happening.
Kelly Hashway says
I can't watch the news. It terrifies me. If I watched it, I'd probably become a recluse.
Catherine Stine says
Traffic jams and overly-fast rollercoasters are harrowing.
SA Larsenッ says
Dang. That sure is harrowing. Great word!! Loads of feeling.
Medeia Sharif says
You picked the right video for that word.
Lynda R Young says
It takes a truly talented writer to make a fictional story horrowing for me 😉
Carrie Butler says
That was shudder-inducing!
Mark Means says
Hey, I like your theme and it's teaching me something to boot! Keep 'em coming 🙂
Left and Write
DMS says
Harrowing is a great word- one I haven't thought of in a bit. I do find the news harrowing. 🙂
~Jess
Empty Nest Insider says
Getting my mom to the beauty shop on time is a pretty harrowing experience, or is that hair raising?!
Julie
C. Lee McKenzie says
I totally understand what you're saying. I plan extra hours into any trip anywhere with my mom, then during the experience my emotions are all over the map: sorrow, joy, empathy, fear, acceptance. All of that and more.
Theresa Milstein says
Harrowing is an excellent word. I haven't had had too many harrowing happenings. Luckily.
Crystal Collier says
I have three kids screaming in the background. Harrowing enough for you? =)
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes. I'm harrowed just reading your comment. Good luck.
klahanie says
A director who gets involved and to a harrowing degree. Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar is having a harrowing experience trying to get me to write better.
I'm going now and enjoy the alphabet as you know it! 🙂
Gary
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oh forget the alphabet as I know it. I much prefer your version. More interesting and certainly a challenge–something I accept.
Carol Kilgore says
I always 'think' harrowing applies more to fiction – thrillers and action scenes – until something harrowing happens to me. Which doesn't happen too often. Thank goodness 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Very fortunate for you. I don't have many harrowing experiences, but those I've had stick with me.
Ruth Schiffmann says
I don't think I've ever used that word in my own writing, but it is powerful. And that video clip – WOW!!!
The Golden Eagle says
Harrowing is a great word. It kind of communicates its meaning in the sound of the r's.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I love words that express their meaning through their sounds. R is a fascinating sound. It's considered a consonant, but there's no articulation point like consonants. It's very vowelish in that respect.
Samantha May says
Oh that is harrowing!
I don't do fish, so I would not like being stuck in the ocean like that 😛
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanks for the "I don't do fish" comment. I loved it.
Pk Hrezo says
I love that word and I dont use it enough. Wow that film looks great! Hadn't heard of it, and looks like it's based on a true story.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes. That story did happen in real life. Hard to believe.
Christine Rains says
Harrowing is a great word. I can't remember if I used it… but might be something I can use for my current WIP. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
It might fit very nicely into those snippets I'm reading.
Misha Gericke says
The Deep would be extra harrowing for me, since I'm deathly afraid of deep water and drowning.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm claustrophobic, so we'd make quite a pair.
Susan Oloier says
I really like this word. I don't believe I've used it in my writing. Perhaps because my characters have not had any harrowing experiences.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Well, tuck it away just in case.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I think I have used it in my books. I
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm looking for it in your books.
M Pax says
Spiders are always harrowing…
C. Lee McKenzie says
Spiders? And here I thought only asteroids could scare you.
Cecilia Robert says
Still trembling after watching that video. Oh those waves! Very scary. Thinking about all that water surround me, slapping me to the ground *shudder* no harrowing experiences for me. Great word though. 😀
C. Lee McKenzie says
In real life, that man survived. It's hard to believe.
Beth says
Real world. Definitely.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Agree.
michelle says
Most stuff you read in the newspaper or see on TV today, is harrowing, haunting… often heinous… and gives me the heebie-jeebies!
Writer In Transit
C. Lee McKenzie says
Ha! Love Heebie-Jeebies! I wonder where that came from. Must investigate.
Al Diaz says
You gave a new word to my vocabulary. I didn't even know what harrow is but I've experienced it.
Adriana Dascalu says
Ditto! Something new for me!
C. Lee McKenzie says
Dragons have all kinds of harrowing experiences, I'm sure.
Elizabeth Seckman says
It's the kind of word that gives me goose bumps just by hearing it…well maybe not that bad, but I surely don't want any harrowing experiences!
C. Lee McKenzie says
And yet you're online all the time. Just think how harrowing that is!
Angela Brown says
Not sure if I'm gearing for the harrowing experience lol! I've got nerves of Jello, not steel 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Oh, no you don't. You're a writer, so no Jello nerves allowed, hear?