Wrandom Writing Tip #9: Emotional Resonance–How to make your book matter

When you've lost interest in writing your novel, there are a few things that could be wrong. You could just have writer's block. Maybe your book needs to be planned out. But most of the time, we writers get bored and uninterested in our writing because it lacks the emotional punch that keeps us interested.

When was the last time you read a book, watched a movie, or finished a TV show? Do you remember the scene that really got you interested? The puncher that made you physically ill because of the complete horribleness of it? Do you remember what you felt?

Felt. That is the key word. I bet the scene you liked best wasn't the one where Prince Charming was handling a machine gun and mowing down flying monkeys. *SPOILERS OUAT* I bet it was the one where Rumpelstiltskin was put in Pandora's box, after trying so hard to be good and get his family back together. For me, it was the scene where Henry was in Peter Pan's body. With my deluded view of Peter Pan, where he was still just a boy who missed his parents like in the real world, it hurt totes bad to see him hugging everyone like he belonged somewhere. *END SPOILERS* I'm sorry I didn't mean for this to turn into a psychotic discussion on what Peter Pan could have been in Once Upon a Time.

The point is, the scenes that matter the most to us are the ones where emotions are raging, tension is high, and the loss is huge. They make us cry, think, love, and scream in rage, and that's what readers (secretly) want out of books, movies, and TV shows.

Now that doesn't mean go and kill off the people everyone loves (though that does cause pain to readers). Unless you have a good reason to, killing people isn't the only answer. There are plenty of other ways to create emotion in your novel, but loss is one of the biggest and most important.

Feelings of loss can be created in many, many ways. Take something away from the hero, kill off a friend, *SPOILERS OUAT* curse Storybrooke to be cast back to the enchanted forest without Emma and Henry...the list goes on. *END SPOILERS* Loss and loneliness are two of the most powerful emotional tools; everyone–and I mean everyone–has felt these emotions, so readers can relate.

Don't underestimate the power of emotional resonance. Sure, the Evil Queen ripping hearts out is interesting and all, but it only really matters if she's ripping the heart of her loving father out. Get what I mean? Creating emotion in each scene is a great way to start bringing the magic back to your novel.

Now go destroy some orphans and kill someones parents. ;)