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- In the world of fiction, secrets serve as a literary device that propels the narrative forward, adding layers of intrigue and complexity to your storytelling. Whether it's a hidden past, a clandestine affair, or a long-buried family secret, the art of incorporating secrets into your fiction can elevate your writing beyond the expected.
www.writersdigest.com › write-better-fiction › 10-secrets-for-using-secrets-in-your-fiction10 Secrets for Using Secrets in Your Fiction - Writer's Digest
Feb 2, 2019 · Secrets can be powerful tools in fiction. When readers sense a secret is in play, their ears perk up, and they’re drawn into the story to ferret out that secret—and to watch the consequences. Almost all characters keep a secret.
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- The Mechanism Behind Fiction’S Transformational Powers
- Empathy
- Social Skills
- Learning About Ourselves
- Personality
- Cognitive Skills
The path from page to heart is far from straightforward. It’s not as if by the time we reach the final word of a book, we metamorphose into kinder, wiser versions of ourselves. “The journey itself is my home,” wrote the Japanese haiku master Matsuo Basho of our fleeting existence. It appears that the journey itself is also where the magic of storyt...
Empathy is a multidimensional construct that includes the ability to infer the mental states of others and to experience the emotions that others are feeling. When we read fiction, we are practicing reading other minds. This process of simulation where readers are trying to understand the characters’ motives, thoughts, and emotions can improve cogn...
Social skills involve the willingness to do something with our knowledge about what other people are thinking and feeling to improve social interactions. For example, if as a host we notice that there’s tension between guests, we could intervene to improve their communication. Based on our understanding of others’ mental states, we can figure out h...
Isn’t contrast the most wonderful way to learn? We often don’t realize our tendencies and patterns until we see them contrasted against other lives and other experiences. Fiction provides this opportunity, as a result, helping us learn more about our own idiosyncrasies. When stories transport us into different worlds, we are not only introduced to ...
Personality refers to any stable way we interact with the world. However, personality is not always static and pre-determined. Instead, it is often reinforced by the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves, which can constrain us. Fiction can help us to mentally exit these self-narratives and practice being in a state where we are not bound by br...
As a feature of information processing, cognitive closure refers to the state in which the individual has made a decision about something, ambiguity is cleared away and they have arrived at a conclusion based on their understanding of the situation. People vary in their need to obtain an answer, any answer, to end further information processing. A ...
Aug 1, 2008 · Why does our brain seem to be wired to enjoy stories? And how do the emotional and cognitive effects of a narrative influence our beliefs and real-world decisions?
Apr 14, 2023 · 1. It Improves Decision Making. Reading fiction may help you make better decisions. In order to think through difficult decisions, psychologists say that it’s best if human beings are able to consider all the information that may impact that decision while also thinking rationally and creatively at the same time.
Sep 21, 2020 · Indeed, an ever-growing body of research shows fiction has the proven capacity to make readers more open-minded, empathetic, and compassionate—capacities critical to ensuring we come out the other side of a global pandemic and a culture of militarized white supremacy with greater societal equity.
May 22, 2023 · Mysteries, secrets, and lies are excellent ways of doing this. When used alongside conflict and suspense, they can turn a story into a truly compelling experience. Here’s how they work…
Apr 19, 2018 · Fiction is a uniquely powerful way to understand others, tap into creativity and exercise your brain. The next time you feel even a tiny bit guilty for picking up a work of fiction instead of a self-help book, consider these 9 benefits of reading fiction. 1. Empathy: Imagining creates understanding.
