Newbie's Corner: A Room of One's Own Part Three: The World the Romance Reader Enters

with Sharon Burke

Hi Everyone,

I would like to share the third interpretation made at the Sydney Writers' Festival of Virginia Woolf's words: "A woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction",  and my thoughts about the fictional world a romance reader enters.

The "Room" the Romance Reader Enters

Some people attending the Sydney Writers' Festival thought the words “a room of her own” could be applied to readers of fiction because when you read quality fiction you enter a world of the author's imagination.

(image courtesy of Pixabay)

Suspending Disbelief

In order for readers to enter this creative world, they must suspend disbelief. Strong characters and a compelling plot will help, but an integral part of suspending disbelief involves establishing a strong emotional connection between your readers and your major characters. A romance reader must feel the pain, sorrow and joy of the hero and heroine and be invested in their future. In other words, she (or he) must vicariously experience the emotions of the viewpoint character/s.

The five senses and vicarious experience

If you've read romance writing "how to" books or attended talks about the craft of romance writing, you know language incorporating the five senses helps the reader make these emotional connections.

Have you ever wondered why? Psychologists tell us many of our emotions relate to a primitive part of the brain called the limbic system. It is possible to vicariously experience emotions based on past experiences.

(image courtesy of Pixabay)

For example, if you have a wonderful relaxing day in a beautiful garden, the scents, colours, warmth and sounds, together with the feel of the flowers and grass would be associated with your memory of that day and the emotions you experienced. The stronger your feelings about the day, the stronger the associations built in your memory.

(image courtesy of Pixabay)

If you then read a well-written love scene set in a beautiful garden, and the writing appeals to your five senses, you will associate the passage with your prior similar sensory experiences and may vicariously experience the emotions the author is trying to engender.

(image courtesy of Pixabay)

In short, if you want to be an effective fiction writer there are powerful psychological reasons to learn to write with “emotional punch”.

What is the most compelling novel you have ever read? Which scene sticks in your memory? Which characters do you truly care about and why?

I love to love:  

I just spend a month holidaying in Hawaii and cruising back to Sydney with my husband. We had a fabulous time.

I love to laugh: 

The new television series of “Upper Middle Bogan” has just started. The interactions of the Wheeler and the Bright family members are so much fun to watch.

(www.mediaday.com.au)

I love to learn: 

I studied psychology many years ago. The knowledge I gained is proving invaluable for me as an aspiring romance author.