The Presence of Absence: Smack Dab in the Imagination by Dia Calhoun

Three Paintings Dealing With Grief
Monica Yother

 At the Art Center College of Design, I first learned that the background or "negative space" around an image is as important a design element as the image. Translating this idea to writing, the negative space can be the following: the secondary or more unconscious psychological motivations driving (or hindering) the characters; the characters' backstories; and the larger historical, cultural, or archetypal conditions of the story's time, place, and setting.

All of this leads to an idea of mine that negative space is the presence of absence. Anyone who has lost a loved one knows all too well that grief is the howling presence of absence. The painting above by Monica Yother (used with permission) illustrates this beautifully.

Writers can access a character's negative space by imagining the negative space, maybe as a dark cloud, moving with and around the character. What is partly unknown by the character, but following them everywhere? What feeling tone does it have? Throbbing? Howling? Annoying? Angelic? This technique may help you discover new layers and depth in your character.