Conquer Club

A Fb writers group posed the question "How do you make your readers cry?"

I said "Go round to their house and kick 'em in the nuts."

The reader has to connect with the character. It also helps if the character is likeable and capable of love.

Where the Red Fern Grows is a great example of readers connecting with a young boy and his hunting dogs Dan and Ann. The book spans years and shows the young boy wanting the puppies, earning all the money for them, walking 20 miles to get them, then raising and training them into masterful hunting dogs. When the tragic battle comes the reader suffers the loss along with the young boy. Heartbreaking.

It's a great book to connect with. In short, if the main character loves (this case dogs) then it's easier to get readers to cry (separation, this case death).

Take me to a place I have never been with characters that have true depth and I might just cry or at least care.

HitRed

I literally cried when I read something which was a sequel to a book I've loved since I was a littlun and my favourite character snuffed it. Not gonna say what, because you'd know that happens.

I usually include armati posts in the midst of complex arguments.

It's pretty much always the death of a character, but with that character being well liked. That and the mourning after.

The last time I cried with laughter though was re-reading The Speckled Band by Conan Doyle. Once you get that armed men broke into a guy's house, murdered him, and kept it from the police so they could share the inheritance, it's really a different story.

I disagree. Being an avid reader (4 books a week minimum), the main thing that waters my eyes is an intense scene typically involving children or at least the protagonist, that is a positive emotional event. Negative events will do it too but that turns me off to the writer. Being a,caring father makes a huge difference as it makes it hit home.

I also disagree.

Try pepper spray.

I have seen a few guys take one in the balls. Groaning, laying on their side and cupping is standard, but none cried.

Super hot wings make me cry, and sweat.

I took out my tear ducts so I never have to cry again.

Sym's top ten macho excuses for crying (in no particular order):

10 ) Top Gun flashback.
9 ) It's a reflex action to sentiment they taught us in the Marines.
8 ) My tear ducts were hacked by Putin.
7 ) It was a move, bra, and she totes fell for it.
6 ) Those weren't tears- I was weeping out excess sperm.
5 ) Estrogen got in my eye.
4 ) I've honed my body to produce saline fluid in cases of distress to help first responders.
3 ) Damn, some chick got tears on me again.
2 ) I'm fine, I don't know what you're talking about.
1 ) I don't cry, I just sweat from my eyeball workouts.

Obviously I'm not in the top 10. But I could give you 10.