There are a number of techniques that any author can use to create a story, build it up from scratch, and gain control over how that story reads. There are ways to ‘guide’ your audience into having them read it the way that you wrote it, and that comes with a ton of practice. But the more you learn about the art of actually doing it, the more effective your stories become in terms of delivering an experience that you can be proud of, and will stick with your audience long after it’s over. However, the ‘advanced class’ version of that craft comes from understanding how to take your story and gain some control over how it feels...not just how it reads.

You may be asking yourself what the difference is...and that’s what I’m going to try my best to talk about today. Because there really is a difference. And the moment you pull on that thread and start figuring out how it works, you might fight yourselves extremely eager to start playing around with the idea! So let’s get into it.

How a story reads is a measure of how involved people are in what you wrote and how you wrote it. Can you deliver the information needed for them to feel as though they’re right there in the middle of the action and can follow the action, the dialogue, the emotional involvement, etcetera. You are creating whatever it is that they came to read...and it’s almost like those glow in the dark lights in a movie theater, guiding your audience in a certain direction without having them trip or stumble along the way. It’s an important part of the process, making sure that everyone reading can be a spectator to the surrounding area, the characters, the dialogue, and the story as a whole without getting confused or mixed up and having to waste time readjusting so that they can re-immerse themselves in the plot. That’s the beauty of taking the reigns and controlling how a story reads.

So...how is this different from how a story feels?

Now, that’s the difficult part to explain. That’s why this is the advanced class, hehehe, but I’ll do my very best to make sense out of it.

What really ‘sticks’ with people after they’ve finished your well written project from beginning to end goes way beyond mere comprehension of the material and the info delivered to them. Even if it’s done in a really lovely and almost poetic way...there’s an unspoken ‘X-factor’ in the stories that you read and enjoy both on and offline. I’ll be honest with you guys, a lot of readers (Maybe even a huge majority) will end up being connected to a mediocre story that truly inspired them or tugged at their heart strings than they will a professionally written piece that is mind-blowingly perfect with its prose and use of metaphor and symbolism. I definitely try my hardest to put out the very best work that I can every time I release a new story or chapter, but I doubt that I could keep a straight face and claim that my own work is anywhere close to being perfect. However, what I’ve learned and taken to heart over the years is that what people remember most about the stories they read is how those tales made them feel. Mistakes and all. And that’s definitely that you want to concentrate on and a skill that you want to master while still having a respect for the story structure and written mechanics needed to be an effective storyteller.

It’s best to have both working for you...but it’s the intangible craft of creating a ‘feeling’ that is really going to end up being the thing that your story is ultimately remembered for. Your audience will end up becoming more attached to the emotions that your story brought out of them than they will to the story itself. Like...how many times have you heard people recommend a really good story to you in the vaguest of terms? How many lines can they really quote, or even paraphrase correctly, from your work? How many times do they even get the actual title of the story wrong, considering they remember the story title at all? Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you that any of your hard work has gone to waste or that it wasn’t an important part of making it a memorable tale that’s worthy of recommendation. It most definitely is. But when readers have finished going through what you wrote, and your story becomes of their ‘past tense’...it’s the overall feeling that’s going to remain. Vague, inexplicable, general...but powerful just the same. No matter what it is that you’re writing...you can’t ignore the ‘feel’ of what it is that you’re using to tell your tale. That’s where a major part of your own personal magic lies. Learn to recognize it, and try to play with different aspects of it to see how your readers react. It will truly help you build an instinct around the one part of your story that might end up being the most influential part of the story that you’re trying to tell.

This comes from how you word your text, and the pacing that you use to do so. You can take the exact same fictional situations and characters and create an entirely different feel for your story, depending on how it’s delivered and what you were feeling at the time that you wrote it. When I look back at some of my stories now, I can easily tell when I was totally heartbroken, when I was just happy with life, when I was seriously pissed off, or when I was starved for sexual affection! Hehehe! And if you guys read through my past work, I’m sure you can pick those scenes out as well. But the point is...the way those stories read...the ‘feel’ is right there on display for everybody to see. And the more I got used to taking chances and wearing my heart on my sleeve, the more comfortable I got with expressing my true feelings in a variety of different ways. The blessing that comes with that is the fact that you begin to pay attention to what makes those feelings more visible to your audience, and you begin to learn how to manipulate your words, your rhythm, and your writer’s voice, to bring these emotions into the spotlight whenever you need them. That’s the key. Finding the magic.

The differences are so very subtle sometimes, but if you know what to look for, you can teach yourself to draw emotions from some words, scenes, and characters, more than others. You can just...sense it. You know? Does that make sense? It’s something that you can learn, but can’t be taught.

The only way that I could think of to give you guys an example comes from music this time around. Maybe it’ll help you to pick up on some of what I’m talking about here. This is the song, “I Will Always Love You”, originally by Dolly Parton. Now, this is a very well known song to most people, but pay close attention to the ‘feel’ of it as you listen to it. What emotions, memories, dreams, inspirations, does it touch upon when you listen to it?

I know that it’s a bit difficult to tap into an explanation with words alone, but stick with me here. Hopefully, you’ll get it by the time this article is over with.

When I listen to the original version of this song, it seems very pure. Very simple. But it comes with an almost heartbreaking tone in its delivery. Can you hear it? With this version of the song, it almost feels like it’s told from a victim’s point of view. It’s like...this isn’t working out, and you’re leaving me...and there’s nothing that I can really do about that other than tell you that I don’t want to get in the way, and I’ll always love you, no matter what. It’s an amazing song once you really absorb what she’s doing here, and I love it. If you need to listen to it again, go ahead. Really let it sink in. Hear the lyrics. Embrace the sad undertones of a relationship that has fallen apart and it’s simply time to bring closure to it all. You know? At least...that’s how it made me feel, listening to it.

Alright...now we jump ahead about 20 or 25 years...and we have Whitney Houston’s remake of this classic. BUT...again...pay attention to how it affects your emotions when you listen to it. It’s the exact same song, with the exact same lyrics...but the ‘feeling’ it gives me is almost the exact opposite of the original. This one feels more empowering. She’s not playing the victim role here, it sounds more like she’s the one leaving, and telling her significant other, “I’m out of here. But, just know, I’ll always love you.”

Listen to this version and see if you get the same feeling...

The feel comes from subtle changes in inflection and power and pauses...but I can sense the difference. It’s all in the delivery. It sounds like this song is coming from a different ‘place’. And when you’re writing, you can do the same thing with your words alone. This is why I do my best writing when I tackle a story according to my current mood, because it’s almost like I can’t ‘hide’ it from my readers. I often write my biggest fights and my arguments when I’m angry. I write my sex scenes when I’m feeling passionate. I write my flirtatious dialogue and my cute moments when I’ve got my romantic juices flowing. Those feelings translate into your creative efforts whether you want them to or not. So discover what generates certain emotions within you, and use those tools to the best of your ability. Don’t try to write something happy and joyful when you’re totally heartbroken in real life. Hehehe, if you’re really open with your emotions in your work...people will easily be able to tell the difference. Instead of using words that sound triumphant and sweet, you may end up writing with a vocabulary that comes off as jealous, stale, or pessimistic. It won’t feel like it at the time, but think about what lens you’re looking at life in general through at that particular moment in time.

The words will be serviceable, and they’ll convey the right kind of information that you need to get your point across...but the danger is that your ‘feel’ may be off in the long run. It may not sound authentic. It might come off as being forced. And you can’t just tell people how to feel in a certain scene. They have to discover that for themselves, you can only act as a guide. Whatever emotion you’re trying to convey has to be accessible, but not shoved into their hands. That’s not how writing works.

Jump ahead another 20 to 25 years...we have this version of the exact same song that was made by Chase Holfelder. Same song, same lyrics, same theme. But just listen to this version! Music can be composed in ‘major’ keys (which usually brightens things up) or in ‘minor’ keys (Which takes them to a darker, moodier, place). This time, the same song is performed in ‘minor’...and the feel is MUCH more sinister in its delivery. Instead of the melancholy Dolly Parton version, or the proactive Whitney Houston version...this one sounds almost as if it’s taking on a stalkerish or possibly suicidal feel. Again, it’s all in the delivery. Check it out, and see what you get from this remake.

This change is not so subtle, but the haunting tone of it stands out as a glaring example of how the ‘feel’ of your story can truly change the whole flavor of your writing, your characters, and your audience’s view of whatever it is that you’re doing with your story. It all depends on where your writing is coming from, and what kind of vibe you want it to have when you’re writing it.

How do you accomplish that? Well, unfortunately the answer to that changes from author to author. You really have to find out what each mood means to you, and what words and expressions you use to showcase those feelings. I can only tell you what to look for and how to recognize it when you see it. The rest is going to have to be a personal endeavor that you all take on for yourselves, experimenting and exploring how the words at your disposal can provide the appropriate impact that you want your story to have. But, whatever you come up with, don’t ignore this part of the writing process. I think every writer needs to look at their work and actually ‘see’ themselves in it, and what they were feeling at that particular moment. It’s a snapshot. A text based photograph that you can use to capture the moment. Find those snapshots and understand them for what they are. Then, learn ways to bend and fold and manipulate them in ways that can create those special feelings for your readers as well.

That’s what people remember more than anything else when it comes to your story. You already feel something...all you have to do is translate it in a way that will help others feel it with you. Join you in your joy, in your pain, in your sadness, or your rage. Look at your own work. How do you speak when you’re angry? How does your pacing change when you’re sad? How much do you smile at your keyboard when you’re feeling goofy? Find that in your work and learn how to replicate it for the scenes when you need that same energy. K?

I hope this helps! Take care, you guys! And I’ll seezya soon with more! ((Hugz all around))