Resonance (noun) – the occurrence of a vibrating object causing another object to vibrate at a higher amplitude.
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I’ve noticed several comments on TKZ lately where folks mentioned a particular book or scene “resonated” with them. Intuitively, we understand what that means, but when I mentioned it to my husband, whose background is physics, I got a mini-lesson on the physical properties of resonance.
It was fascinating.
That sent me off to read some more about this phenomenon. I discovered the howstuffworks site that gave a definition perfectly describing the concept:
“At its core, resonance is the extraordinary phenomenon where an object vibrates at the same natural frequency as another.”
There are several areas that clearly illustrate resonant behavior.
MUSIC
This may be the most obvious. Notes produce sound in waves. When you play a note on the piano, the string vibrates and causes the sounding board to vibrate and amplify the sound. In addition, playing two notes that have related frequencies produce a harmonious sound. For example, playing two notes an octave apart or a “perfect fifth” like playing C and G at the same time produce a resonant result.
SWINGS
We’ve probably all enjoyed having someone push us on a swing. If the push is at right moment, the swing will go higher. If it’s a little early or late, the frequency is off, and the swing won’t go as high.
BRIDGES
Soldiers are often ordered to stop marching in a synchronized cadence when they cross a bridge to avoid accidentally activating a dangerous frequency. The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse is a perfect example of resonance that resulted in a bridge disaster. The wind’s force, combined with the bridge’s natural frequency of vibration, led to resonance, where the oscillations became increasingly large and violent.
Fortunately, no one died in the Tacoma Narrows disaster, but it’s not the kind of resonance we’re aiming for in our writing!
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WRITING
Now that we know what resonance is, how do we use the concept in writing a story? Again, from the howstuffworks site:
When we say a piece of art or music resonates with us, we mean that it strikes a chord in our hearts and minds. This emotional resonance is the magic that binds us to the world around us, creating a profound connection between ourselves and our experiences.
James Scott Bell addressed this topic in his recent post on “What Writers Can Learn from the Twilight Zone.” He concluded that the essence of a work is its heart, the ability to emotionally connect with the reader. He advises us
“What is it you care most deeply about, besides selling books? Tap into it. Draw from it. Make it thrum throughout your work.”
I believe the “thrum” JSB spoke of is the resonant quality of a story that touches the reader in a way to amplify his/her emotional response.
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Here are a few examples of books that created that magic bond and resonated with me. Some because I connected with the characters, others because I felt the emotion even if I didn’t identify with the characters.
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
- West with the Night by Beryl Markham
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
- The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
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So, TKZers: How would you define resonance in writing? How do you ensure that your stories will resonate with the reader? What books have resonated with you?
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The idea of a search for treasure hidden by the mysterious “Mr. Shadow” resonates with a lot of people in the university town of Bellevue. However, very few of them are as determined as these two young detectives.
But will Mrs. Toussaint’s advice that “Persistence is the key to success” prove true?
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Right on, Kay. I talk about resonance a lot when I teach endings. It’s the part I spend the most time on when I polish. I want that last “note” to be one that lingers in the reader’s heart and mind. And I do mean note, as it’s really the sound I’m after.
Good morning, Jim. I remember your talking about the importance of the ending and hitting the right note.
I had never thought of it as matching up on frequency before, but putting it in terms of music is so helpful.
Have a great week.
My editor says she’s looking for that “awww” ending, especially in my romantic suspense novels.
I want my readers to connect with my characters, which I suppose is resonance.
Morning, Terry.
I like what your editor said. That “awww” ending is like hearing the last note in a symphony where the sound resolves into one perfect harmony.
Thanks for spotlighting this important topic, Kay.
Like Jim, I work esp. hard on the endings striving to hit that perfect note. Usually it is the final echo of a theme that’s been running throughout the story. It may be putting to rest a nagging doubt. Or the recognition of an emotion that’s been suppressed by a character up to that point. Or confession of a truth the reader knows but a character finally admits to.
Since my series has continuing characters, I also try to inject a note of promise that they will go on to further adventures in future books.
Good morning, Debbie!
I like the way you put this: “the final echo of a theme that’s been running throughout the story.”
Speaking of series, do you think it’s harder or easier to achieve resonance with a series book as opposed to a standalone novel?
Good question, Kay, and I don’t know the answer since I haven’t written a standalone novel in a long time.
However, short stories require similar resonance and they’re usually standalones. For them, I think in terms of a punchline that causes the reader to pull back and say “Whoa!”
This could be an interesting future post, polling the KZ gang for how they handle resonance for series vs. standalones.
Good idea, Debbie. Maybe a post on the issues of writing a series vs. a standalone.
When it comes to series, I’d also like to know to what extent series writers plot out the series before pressing publish with the first book (assuming the series has a continuing thread that feeds through them, rather than a book series where each book is a stand alone in the sense that everything is tied up in each book).
Good question, Brenda. Series vs. Standalone would be a good topic for a future post.
I wrapped up my first book a little too quickly and my editor said: “Your readers have been rooting for these two through your whole story. Don’t rush the ending. Give them a scene they can sigh over.”
I keep that in mind with every book. Great post!
Hi Patricia!
You have a very astute editor. Letting that final scene linger for the reader to savor is smart. I think of the last couple of sentences from To Kill a Mockingbird:
“He turned out the light and went into Jem’s room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.”
Have a great week.
Good post, Kay!
For me, resonance in a story, be it a novel or a movie, involves justice. I want justice to win out, innocents to be rescued, and bad guys to get what’s coming to them. It seems like we have watched more than a few movies where the ending doesn’t bring that sweet spot for me and it always disappoints me.
I have a few go-to authors who I can count on to “resonate” with my sense of justice. Some in these very halls–you know who you are…
Have a resonant Monday! 🙂
Hi Deb.
Yes, I think that “justice is served” ending is important to many of us. And aren’t we the lucky ones — so many TKZers provide that very resonance in their stories.
Have a great week.
Resonance finds me in the books that cause me to blink and come back to the real world because I forgot it was a story and that the characters weren’t real. It’s in the stories that make me tear up or snort-laugh because I find myself so deeply in the scene that I’m part of what the characters do and feel. It’s in the books that make me sad to reach the end, or in the series where I hate to read the last page because I have to say goodbye to people and places in which I’m invested.
Resonance takes a good book and makes it timeless, memorable.
Well said, Suzanne!
This is such an important topic, Kay. Thanks for covering it today. Creating resonance is something I’m always striving to improve in my own writing. AS Jim and others have already noted, endings need to resonate. I’d say endings linger to the degree they resonate with the reader
I’d also argue that beginnings of stories and novels need resonance, too, as a way of drawing in and engaging the reader, and propelling them into the narrative.
Hope you have a wonderful week!
So true, Dale. Having the beginning resonate with the reader will draw them into the story. And the ending will keep the story in their minds.
You have a wonderful week as well!