by Addison Fox
The month of October abounds with scary things from knife-wielding psychopaths to hockey-masked villains, dark woods and ghoulish ghost stories. All are designed to assault the senses with a bloody mix of physical and mental torture.
But in real life, the things we fear are often far more subtle – and far more personal – than the monsters that live in the dark. And as authors, it’s our job to use those very real human fears to create a gripping read on the page.
None of us likes fear – the human emotion that simultaneously protects us and tortures us in the deepest recesses of our minds. But if you can create that feeling on the page - the one where you bring your characters’ deepest fears to life – you create an experience for the reader that’s touching and oh-so-real.
Writing romance allows us to tap into the deepest human fears – our secret doubts that question our ability to love and be loved, to live a fulfilling life and to share our lives with others.
Will I be enough for someone else?
Will my past prevent me from enjoying a happy present and future?
Can I reveal my true nature to the one I’m falling in love with?
These questions and so many others create a rich tapestry of emotions that we can weave into our characters’ lives. When we do this, we create a compelling story that keeps our readers with us to the very end of the book.
No matter what you write, from romantic suspense to erotica to historical and every sub genre in between, creating that emotion on the page will leave your readers satisfied long after the last word is read and the story is told. Taking your readers to those places – the ones that live deep inside the rich well of human emotions – will ensure they keep coming back for more.
Happy Writing!
Addison
Despite early ambitions of being a diver, a drummer or a doctor, Addison Fox happily discovered she was more suited to life as a writer. She lives in Dallas and - thankfully - doesn't have to operate on anyone. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com. Her next book, COME FLY WITH ME, will be out November 2012 from Signet Eclipse.
You have masterfully encapsulated the crux of our stories, Addison, because in the end, the conflict our heroes and heroines face - because what is conflict except dealing with a fear and how to overcome it to gain what is desired? Written with finesse, what might seem a small, everyday fear can be rendered with the intensity with which it is experienced, and allow a reader to feel the character's emotion. Very thought provoking post! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lise!!!
ReplyDeleteI am having so much fun reading all the "scary blogs" this month!! It's such a fun thing for our chapter to do :-)
Addison