Why Good Texts Sometimes Remain Empty
“There are texts that are clever, precise, and to the point—and yet they don’t move me,” says author Gabriele Ela Schellinger. That’s why she founded her literary company, ELA – Herz & Wort. In this article, she explains the longing for a different kind of language in our rather noisy world.
Texts are more than just words. “In recent years, I’ve noticed something very clear—in what I read, in what is reflected back to me, and also in what people share with me after readings, while I’m writing, or in feedback on my books,” says Gabriele Ela Schellinger.
Language has changed. It has become faster, more direct, and often harsher. Statements are made clearly, as are positions. Much of it is designed to be understood, categorized, and evaluated immediately. This has its place, and in many areas, that is exactly what is needed. And at the same time, something else is emerging: a palpable longing for a different form of language.
Texts that straddle precision and a lack of connection
I keep coming across texts that are really good. Intelligent, precise, well-thought-out—and yet they don’t resonate with me. Not because they’re lacking something, but because they leave no room for interpretation. They guide, they explain, they get to the heart of the matter, but they leave nothing open to interpretation. That’s exactly where the difference lies for me.
What cannot be held onto
Because there are things that can’t simply be summed up without losing their depth. Feelings are among them. Inner processes. Those subtle shifts that often become apparent only in hindsight—if at all. The more you try to define them, the further you sometimes drift from what actually defines them.
Texts, that do not claim to be exhaustive…
…and what emerges when you don’t explain everything. For me, this is precisely where a different kind of language begins. One that doesn’t explain everything right away. One that doesn’t have to be understood immediately. One that doesn’t aim to be self-contained. That is exactly what I work with in my writing. And I find that many people identify with it. Not necessarily because they understand everything, but because something within them is touched without it needing to be named.
Not theory, but experience—moments that make a difference
Second row, front left—a moment in itself. I still remember the reading clearly. A woman was sitting in the second row. As I read, I noticed out of the corner of my eye how she grew quieter and quieter.… weiterlesen
C&C Autorin aus Meerbusch
Gabriele Ela Schellinger, genannt „Ela“, ist die Gründerin von ELA – Herz & Wort und eine moderne Stimme der deutschsprachigen Lyrik. Ihre klare, verdichtete Sprache verbindet psychologische Tiefe mit poetischer Präzision und schafft Worte für Gefühle, die oft schwer auszudrücken sind. Mit ihrer Gedichtreihe Herzzeitlos hat sie ein literarisches Format etabliert, das Menschen in persönlichen Wandelphasen Orientierung, Ausdruck und emotionale Klarheit schenkt. Ihre Leser schätzen ihre Fähigkeit, Unsagbares in präzise, berührende Zeilen zu verwandeln – Texte, die man fühlt und die bleiben.