Intimacy—in broad terms—deepens storytelling, draws readers

Intimacy by definition means having a close understanding or association or detailed knowledge of something or someone.

Intimacy creates bonds—between a reader and character.  

You in your memoir or your character in a fictional plot might feel an intimacy or bond with things as diverse as land or nature, a job, a grandparent, a city neighborhood, a new car, etc.

Intimacy means you GO DEEP with emotional connection. You care passionately.

Very few writing craft books talk about intimacy, but The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maass shares thoughts on the subject I find useful to help writers create better stories.

“For characters’ hearts to be open to readers, characters must talk to us quite a bit about what’s going on inside. In many manuscripts, the characters don’t disclose much. Often they, or rather their authors, simply report what’s happening to them—a dry, play-by-play conveyance of the action.”

Maass points out that plot-driven writers (and most of us are plot-driven to an extent) may fear slowing the action. Or we fear gushing on the page, or boring readers. Here’s what he says to that:

“Creating a world that is emotionally involving for readers means raising questions and concerns about the world.”

I agree. Writers:  know WHY your character can go deep with something, then illustrate it.

Intimacy helps humans (and characters) feel “whole” and human.

Intimacy pulls in readers because we find emotional impact memorable. It sells. After watching a good movie or reading a great novel we often say, “It took me a while to recover. I was so involved. I sank into the story. I felt so many emotions.” We liked that feeling of intimacy; a bond was formed, a bond we did not expect. Fiction came alive for us.

Here are 5 ways (out of many more) to create intimacy and bonds: 

— Create or reshape a character with trouble and yearnings they share with another character, even the antagonist. Is it their secret? Even better. Readers love secrets and surprising bonds.

— Improve the intimacy potential by having your character confess to mistakes, past or present.  We all make mistakes; readers enjoy witnessing how your characters handle mistakes. 

— Sometimes “easy” tools or devices provide intimacy. Add a diary or journal or a continuing conversation with a character such as a grandmother or ghost from the past (depending on your genre). Think “opposites,” too. Example:  Have your antagonist thug share meals with a surprising character at least twice. How about the local librarian? How is the thug different in that situation? What does the thug reveal only to this librarian? (Try the same exercise with your protagonist.)

— Add a pet or animal aspect. Readers love intimate moments animals create with people. That intimacy can reveal love, kindness, different skills, memories, or a flaw or regret. What might your character confess to the animal? If animals don’t fit your plot, what about plants or anything else you prefer? 

— Use “place.” Emotions about a place are shared universally around the world. We feel deeply about the land of our birth, or an old house, or a river or mountain, etc. The history and characteristics of place breathe intimacy into a story. How does your character interact with the environment, with nature?

Go deeper than you have thus far in your writing.

Intimacy means there’s a relationship of some kind, and that’s precious fuel for action and reaction.

Intimacy results in great storytelling.