Something that I think about, mostly for science fiction or other genres of fiction outside of my normal fanfare, is finding out how to really pull my readers into this new world that I’ve built, often from scratch, and find a way to truly keep them immersed in it from beginning to end without having it feel like some sort of ‘trick’ or an illusion. You know how you have those really weird dreams that you don’t really recognize as dreams until you wake up, and you think, “What the fuck made me fall for that craziness when I KNOW that I’m a fully rational person and not completely insane? Hehehe, yes...I do that all the time! But during the dream, it seems like a perfectly logical set of rules and fears and choices for me to have and pursue until I wake up the next morning. Sometimes...THAT’S the quality that I want my stories to have! And I feel that I’ve gotten really lucky in the art of pulling that off over the years with a few of the stories that I write. Not always...but, let’s just say that I’m proud of my ‘success to fail’ ratio so far. Hehehe, and that is more difficult that most nw writers might think it is. So take heed, rookies! Let me and any other GayAuthors who want to comment on this guide you into the light! Because it’s a special skill to have when you’re writing, and even more so when you’re just getting started! So pay attention! ((Hugz))

For me, the whole idea is to pull my readers away from their everyday lives and trade it all in for a world of my own making. Absent of mundane tasks and brainwashed rules of civil engagement. All while erasing the feeling that it’s just a fictional story that they’re reading. It’s something more than that. It’s a transport to a whol other life through the eyes of someone who is living the life you always wanted to live if you could go back and do it again, knowing what you know now. How different would your life, or all of our lives, be...if you could go back and prevent some of the mistakes that you made growing up? And by ‘growing up’, I’m not just talking about childhood here. I’m talking high school, adulthood, family life, retirement years...hindsight is always 20/20...but you fiction is your time portal to explore all of those ‘multiversal’ parts of yourself where you made different choices, fixed some of those regrets, and imagine what could have been if it weren’t for...’whatever’. Hehehe! It doesn’t have to be super dramatic, depressing, or anything like that. It’s just you writing out your fantasies about what might have happened if you had been on the journey that you are on now and had maybe taken a few different forks on the road along the way. I mean...don’t you ever wonder about it? I do! All the time! And it’s a major focus for all of the writing that I do online!

Well, there are plenty of readers out there who share that sentiment. Some of them even ache over the regret of not making those different choices when they had the chance. I’ll be honest...I do too from time to time. It hurts to think that my whole life could be totally different right now if I had only asked that on cute boy out on a date. Or if I had been writing stories instead of being so afraid of what people would say about it all. Or if had continued my acting career instead of getting discouraged when I was younger. So many questions, it’s crazy. But that’s where my writing frees me! That’s what I draw from as my greatest strength, and use it to build the kind of stories that I wish I could have lived through while I was curled up in the corner, sooooo scared of coming out or being exposed for liking other boys. I mean...looking back, I KNOW some of those cute boys were gay, and probably would have been thrilled to know that they weren’t alone! But I made the mistake of being too afraid to make a go of it. And now the rest is left up to the pointless fictional romances in my mind.

Where is Comsie going with this?

Hang in there. Hehehe, because adding theses elements to your writing can really pull your audience in and give them even more reasons to read and follow your work for long periods of time. No matter how long it takes. There’s no WAY that you can’t say that I’m a self proclaimed expert in this field! Hehehe, so don’t click away just yet! There’s a bit more coming!

This is the goal, folks. And the goal is reader immersion.

One thing that I’ve learned over the years when it comes to achieving this miraculous feat is by getting them to experience the story the way that I experience the story.

Don’t worry. It’s not really difficult for any practiced writer to pull off if they want to do it. It just takes a slight tilt on the whole the ‘reader empathy’ idea. It’s a method that will bring your audience in and get them to lean a few inches closer to their computer screens (That’s bad for your eyes, ya know? Hehehe!) and throw a large chunk of their reality away for an isolated piece of your adventure...even when times in that world are going downhill in the worst way. As I’ve said in previous articles...it’s all about involving them in the process of the story itself. And, in this particular case, that all comes from surrounding your premise, plot, environment, character motivations, and story arcs around a single important question. Just one.

How does this relate to you?

Developing and building on that question is what is going to attract and hold onto your audience in ways that other stories won’t. So it’s definitely an important part of the process, and one you should practice until it becomes a subliminal part of you simply doing what it is you do with your writing. So, let’s get into it, shall we?

Immersion is a skill that can’t really be taught, it can only be developed over time. It can only be understood...and the deeper your understanding of it goes, the easier it becomes. Otherwise, everything that you write is just words on a page. Great words, educated vocabulary, proper mechanics and structure, all placed in a certain sequential order with a particular rhythm and cadence to it...it can make for a decent story. But how will it make you feel while you’re reading it? What does it inspire in you? What moves you? Sure, it can deliver everything that you need to know to have it make sense...but so does the instruction booklet for whatever your latest gimmicky purchase was. If you ever look at your own work and wonder what’s missing? The answer is ‘immersion’. You’re not one with the story. It exists outside of you, and therefore outside of your readers. It’s just well written grafiti spray painted on the wall for other people to glance at as they walk by. The true ‘experience’ has been lost. But, worry not...this can be fixed. You just have to make it an automatic part of your process. And that can be done by keeping three rules in mind.

Let’s all take a moment and be honest here...we’re all selfish. Hehehe! It’s true! Selfish beings, constantly trying to deny that narcissistic streak inside that wants everything to be all about us. Especially when it comes to our escapism and our entertainment. So...let’s start there. The three rules of truly engaging an audience begins with that one simple question...

How does this relate to me?

We answer this question with the stories we create. The three rules are as follows...

- Common Desires

- Common Fears

- Common Obstacles

If you can hook your readers into those three parts of your story, plot, and main character...then you’ve got the winning lottery ticket. Pretty much with anything and everything that you write from that day forward. They may seem vague in description, but that’s the beauty of it. Because even if your audience hasn’t been through this particular situation, whether it be a joyful reward or a devastating hardship, they can still relate to it because you’ve spoken to a part of them that goes deeper than that. That is what makes it work so well.

When I talk about a ‘common desire’...it doesn’t have to be a precise part of your storytelling. Let’s say that you’re a gay man, with an infatuation for someone special to you, taking care of your little nephew after his parents died, trying to promote your band and gain funding for a new album. Now, that’s a pretty specific situation to be in, and there are very few people who can relate to that kind of thing. BUT...what they can relate to are the common desires of that story. Being infatuated, falling in love, caring for and nurturing a child, following your passion in life, and trying to elevate your station through your work. Don’t bury those parts of the story. If anything, you should be bringing them to the forefront. People can zoom in on the themes that you’re working with, and that will increase the level of immersion for your readers. Like, “Omigod...it’s like this story was written just for ME!” I do it too. On some level, we all do when it comes to the stories we really love and get a kick out of. The memorable ones that we quote on occasion and think about when we get a few quiet moments to ourselves.

The same thing applies for the other two rules. Common fears should be written in and expressed. We all feel scared sometimes. Love is intimidating, unfamiliar surroundings create anxiety, threats of violence or even just ridicule triggers a ‘fight or flight’ response on a biological level. Why not on a mental or emotional level as well? What would you do in these situations? I mean...it’s easy to read a story and then sit back and think about it, and then complain about how you would have written it differently after the fact...but how would you have responded right there in the present moment? When all logic has been tossed out the window and your faced with, what feels like, a life or death situation? Bring your audience into that exact moment. Even if they come back hours later and complain about what they WOULD have done...hehehe, maybe, maybe not...but for those few brief moment, I had you locked into MY reality! And things here work MY way! So deal with it!

The rule about common obstacles? Same instincts are put to work here. Obstacles likes social norms, like possible embarrassment, like poverty, like gossip and rumors, racism, homophobia, forbidden love, or simple insecurity about your looks, your age, your weight. These are all issues that people are forced to deal with on a daily basis. And even the ones who haven’t experienced it for themselves...the very concept of having obstacles in the way of you living your best life without judgement and harassment is enough for them to understand, and therefore bond with your story. They’re immersed in it now. And that will carry you much further than all of the poetic words and flowery metaphors ever could.

Readers don’t just ‘read’. They embrace and personalize the fiction that they absorb. Like I always say, the success of any story isn’t just about the writer. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the author and their audience. What you write and what they feel have an equal part in this madness. Hehehe! So don’t just ‘tell your story’...bring them in. Extend an invitation to be a part of its success, and allow them to see what you see. Feel what you feel. Taste what you taste.

Hehehe, that last one might be fun!

Alright, that’s all for now. Some more food for thought as I try to explain my methods and share them all while I’m still alive and kicking. It’s actually been a fun exercise, trying to explain myself after 26 years of playing everything by ear. I like it. Sometimes, I think that putting this stuff into words makes me pay more attention to what I’m doing, and I’m learning the same way I hope you guys are.

So happy writing! And I’ll seezya soon with more! Love you lots, folks!