Resonant storytelling includes a mixture of magic and logic, of possibility and practicality. Many nonfiction writers get trapped in one side or the other. Scientists and corporate types become overly attached to jargon and traditional logic out of a fear of being perceived as “woo.” On the other end of the spectrum, those who focus relentlessly on possibility and wonder often lack the gravitas (on the page) necessary for trust and resonance. I have nothing against wonder. I seek it out every day. But in writing, it needs to be balanced.
By weaving together magic and logic, you can engage readers’ hearts as well as their minds—not just one or the other. If you do it well, you can engage their minds in service to their hearts.
Lessons from Magic Realism
In fiction, there’s a genre called magic realism, which originated in Latin American literature (among its most distinguished authors are Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Carlos Fuentes). What distinguishes magic realism, in part, is a story that seems to be ‘typical’ literary fiction set in the familiar world… yet in the world of the story, certain types of magic exist and are considered completely normal. It’s simply part of the world the author has created.
Every genre of fiction, from sci-fi to romance, has its own conventions (aka ‘rules’). Here are two of the conventions from magic realism are applicable to transformative nonfiction…
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