Yes, that's interesting. I think not all the responses I received were "about death." I think death and loss are, in their way, also about life. Fear or certainty, I don't know. Death certainly lends a sense of urgency or poignancy around living. I think all stories "matter" but some stay with us long after reading. Thanks for stopping by, Sally!
Sets my hair on fire every time. The micro that most stays with me is Nancy Stohlman's about the woman getting the Coca-Cola logo tattooed on her face--but I can't remember the title. sigh.
I am so glad I started reading your substack! Thanks Kathy! I have been possesed with an image lately, a metaphor it seems for the emotion I have been struggling with. It came back to me immediately when I read your prompt. I’ll give it a try.
Resonance. Yes. I love the sound bath example. Yes. Creating that strong, authentic voice seems like the best way to do this, or like you said, tapping deeply into that internal emotion. If you can get yourself to feel something on the page you’ll likely get readers to feel it, too. Powerful. And I love the notion of potent, vivid imagery. Making readers SEE something universal can make them feel it too.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Michael! Yes, I'm taken with the idea that we sometimes create images that we ourselves don't see the significance of until later. Huge believer in trusting what the subconscious delivers to us. I appreciate your thoughts on this!
This idea of resonance I will remember. You read it and you hear it, but this puts a definition to it that I find very useful.
I'm glad to hear it! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. : )
All of the resonance examples here are about death. Is that what makes them seem to matter? If so, is it the fear or the certainty?
Yes, that's interesting. I think not all the responses I received were "about death." I think death and loss are, in their way, also about life. Fear or certainty, I don't know. Death certainly lends a sense of urgency or poignancy around living. I think all stories "matter" but some stay with us long after reading. Thanks for stopping by, Sally!
Thank you. While I'm here, the story that most sticks to my skull is Tobias Wolff's Hunters In The Snow https://www.classicshorts.com/stories/huntsnow.html
Ooh, I think I have read this one, but I'll bookmark it. Thanks, Sally!
Sets my hair on fire every time. The micro that most stays with me is Nancy Stohlman's about the woman getting the Coca-Cola logo tattooed on her face--but I can't remember the title. sigh.
I am so glad I started reading your substack! Thanks Kathy! I have been possesed with an image lately, a metaphor it seems for the emotion I have been struggling with. It came back to me immediately when I read your prompt. I’ll give it a try.
Oh wonderful! Thanks, Elvan! Let me know how it goes!
Resonance. Yes. I love the sound bath example. Yes. Creating that strong, authentic voice seems like the best way to do this, or like you said, tapping deeply into that internal emotion. If you can get yourself to feel something on the page you’ll likely get readers to feel it, too. Powerful. And I love the notion of potent, vivid imagery. Making readers SEE something universal can make them feel it too.
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Thanks so much for stopping by, Michael! Yes, I'm taken with the idea that we sometimes create images that we ourselves don't see the significance of until later. Huge believer in trusting what the subconscious delivers to us. I appreciate your thoughts on this!
I love this feature! :) Great insights and tips. Thanks Kathy!
Thanks so much, Freya!
Thanks for the restack, Joleen!