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Call me demented from birth, but as soon as I learned to count on my fingers, life seemed way too short for all the love, experience, and writing (click here for about my books) that I hoped to cram in. By first grade, I sobbed myself to sleep after ticking off how ancient my parents would be when I was 15, then 20, and so on… Maybe that’s why I’m extra thrilled to meet people who are busting the myths about aging.
The Guardian posted “This is what 70 looks like” back in 2018. Five years later, their featured influencers call out the cosmetics industry for treating aging like a shameful disease. These vloggers demonstrate beauty techniques and get real about life’s ups and downs in ways that no 25-year-old model could be convincing.
Here they are, stronger than ever! Click the YouTube links to meet…
- Tricia Cusden, 75, London
- Makrye Park, 77, Yong-In, South Korea
- Melissa Gilbert, 68, Tennessee
- Nichole Grice, 60, North Carolina
- Margaret Manning, 74, Zug, Switzerland
Today’s guest, Karen Lynne Klink, blogss from Arizona. She started writing fiction at 60! For more about the full life she led before that and now, as well as info on her books, visit her site…
Here she shares some of her writing wisdom…
Forging Bonds: The Essential Connection Between Writers and Readers — Characters and Historical Fiction by Karen Lynne Klink
In the vast realm of literature, the most impactful stories are not mere ink on paper but intricate conduits that bridge the minds and hearts of readers. As a writer, my primary goal is to create captivating narratives that transport readers into a world of imagination, but my main focus lies in forging a profound connection between my reader and the characters I bring to life.
Empathy and Relatability: The Building Blocks of Connection
One of the fundamental aspects of establishing a deep connection with my reader is cultivating empathy and relatability with my characters. When readers can see themselves, their experiences, or their aspirations reflected in the lives of my characters, they form an emotional bond. By crafting characters with a range of human emotions, flaws, and dreams, I give readers the opportunity to identify with them, fostering a sense of shared understanding and empathy.
Invoking Emotional Responses: Evoking the Power of Feelings
Deep emotional writing using deep point of view has the ability to elicit a spectrum of emotions within readers. Whether it’s joy, sorrow, fear, or excitement, invoking emotional responses creates a memorable reading experience. By delving into the depths of characters’ emotions, I invite readers to embark on an emotional journey alongside them. When readers connect emotionally with characters, they become emotionally invested in them and their stories, yearning for resolution, growth, and transformation.
Authenticity and Realism: Breathing Life into Fiction
While fiction may be born in the realm of imagination, it finds its strength in mirroring reality. The authenticity and realism infused into narratives creates a sense of believability, enabling readers to suspend disbelief and fully immerse themselves in a world created by meticulous research. By grounding characters in genuine human experiences, quirks, and dilemmas, I invite readers to connect with them on a profound level.
Shared Experiences: Finding Common Ground
The power of connection lies in finding common ground. By addressing universal themes and experiences, a writer taps into the shared human condition. Whether it’s love, loss, friendship, or personal growth, exploring themes that resonate with readers cultivates a sense of kinship and understanding. By weaving these universal threads into stories, I attempt to create a bond that transcends the boundaries of time, culture, and personal differences.
The connection between a writer and readers is not a one-sided affair; it requires active engagement from both parties. As a writer, I must actively listen to readers’ feedback, take their perspectives into account, and adapt storytelling accordingly while remaining true to historical facts, themes and characters. By engaging in conversations with readers, whether through author events, social media platforms, or book clubs, I hope to create spaces for mutual understanding, trust, and shared appreciation for the stories I create.
Importance of Meaningful Connections
The significance of fostering a strong connection between writers and readers cannot be overstated.
Through empathy, emotional resonance, authenticity, and shared experiences, we can bridge the gap between imaginative worlds and the hearts and minds of readers. As a writer, I hope to shape more authentic lives, broaden horizons, and leave a lasting impact. By cultivating meaningful connections with readers, perhaps I will forge a bond that transcends the pages of my books, creating an impression that resonates long after the final chapter is read.
Who you hope to grow old like?
Happiness Between Tails by da-AL 
[…] accomplishments late in life. One is her guest, author Lynne Klink, who advises aspiring writers on how to connect with readers in meaningful ways. […]
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Many thanks for linking!
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