Having Guts – How to Physically Affect your Readers

Inhale. Take in as much air as you can.

The goal of most of us, as writers, is to cause some sort of an emotional response in our readers. Whether we make them think, or make them angry or sad or excited, it is a sure sign that our writing has heart and substance and has linked the mind of the writer to the mind of the reader and touched them in some way. When this happens, we can be pleased with ourselves.

But, why just aim for an emotional reaction?

The short story, Guts, by Chuck Palahniuk, has gained almost mythical status for its ability to cause an extreme physical reaction in its readers. During the book tours in 2003 and 2004 to promote his new novel Haunted, Chuck read Guts for his audiences. At these readings around sixty people are said to have completely fainted.

How can just words make this happen? Sure, the story is graphic and deals with a dark, shocking subject. But this physical reaction that Chuck was able to achieve from his audience shows that his writing is bold, brave and powerful.

Like him or not, Palahniuk can teach us something here with Guts. His writing, particularly in this story, is extreme, and for better or worse it grabs readers by the throat and shakes. I’m not saying that we should completely change our writing styles in order to be outrageous. But we can all push the boundaries of our writing in little ways, and push our readers for the physical reaction. Even if you don’t get an actual physical reaction (and, let’s face it, you’re probably not going to make people throw up) you will certainly go a long way toward affecting them at a deeper emotional level.

Here are some ways that you can aim for that physical reaction.

Give your WORDS guts.

Sometimes, the right word for what we want to say is obvious, but we writers, for whatever reason, try and think of a different one. Sometimes we are trying to be clever and use an interesting or little-used word. Perhaps we are showing off. Sometimes we do not have enough faith in the words and try and think of a different way of saying it. Other times we try and explain too much with our words.

Have faith and let the words speak for themselves. Do away with those pesky adverbs, and write boldly and clearly. Your words will have guts and your meaning will be unmistakeable — and your story far more readable, enjoyable and, most importantly, much more emotive. The words will make your reader feel their power, not just try and persuade them to feel a certain way.

Give your CHARACTERS guts.

Characters should be real. They should live and breathe, both on the page and in the minds of the reader. They won’t do this unless you flesh them out, give them guts – a background (even if you don’t write about it), emotions, feelings. Make them hate something, make them love something and, most importantly, make them want something.

Also, when writing dialogue for your characters, have them talk as though they would in real life. If your character would swear, have them swear. And I don’t mean, “Aw shucks.” A man who has just lost his wife, or a mob boss who has just been shot, is going to swear. A lot.

Give your STORY guts.

Be bold and brave. When writing a story, even a simple one, you must not be frightened to write exactly what happens, even if that is ugly, depressing, shocking, brutal or disgusting. To the question, “What should I write about?” Stephen King tells us…

Anything you damn well want. Anything at all… as long as you tell the truth

Whatever it is that you write, be truthful and honest with your readers. If that means pushing the boundaries or being shocking, so be it. This is perhaps the best way to achieve the deepest, most powerful reaction in your readers. Be real, and write about the truth. Don’t pull your punches.

So next time you write, give your story some guts. Try your damnedest to make the reader feel it, whatever that is. Make their blood boil. Make them feel sick. Make their skin crawl.

And make them turn the page and read on.

Any more ideas on how to give your story guts? Please share them in the comments below!