Posted on 6-15-23

Illusion

1. a. A misleading image presented to the vision: optical illusion.

b. Something that deceives or misleads intellectually.

c. Perception of something objectively existing in such a way to cause misinterpretation of its actual nature.

“Illusion Definition & Meaning.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illusion.

So, how does it relate to writing?

Choosing images or words that deceive a writer. Using narrative, dreams, visions, hallucinations, and/or dialogue to intentionally mislead a reader.

This works great in thrillers and mysteries. But it can also work in all genres where you want to lead the reader in one direction, so when the truth finally comes out, it’s a surprise. Readers tend to love this, as they want to discover a book, and not told a book.

We use illusion in dropping hints throughout our work and creating a believable world that is immersive and a convincing ‘reality,’ meaning the reader can see themselves in those pages. Illusion can be used very well in making the ‘bad’ guy seem like a good guy, or he/she comes across as benevolent, when really, they have ulterior motives.

Aesthetic illusion – mental captivation. This is achieved through imagination or emotion, that seems so real, the reader gets lost in the world you’ve created and is suspended between the make-believe and reality.

Fictional aesthetic illusion – works of the imagination, creating fabricated stories with narrative illusion. In writing, this would be the author pulling the reader into the story so the reader can envision what is written and think of themselves inside that world. This is done through the correct word usage, usually in relation to the genre.

Factual aesthetic illusion – this is found in non-fiction works (usually), although historical fiction uses the same elements. These tend to use less imagination since it is a history we know about.

Illusion – is a falsehood. Its intent is to deceive. Its intent is to create a book that leaves you guessing. Its intent is to create an immersive world, creating an emotional response and activating their imagination.

So, how do you use illusion in your writing? Do you use it? Should you use it?

Each story is different, but if you ever want to create a mystery around someone, a place, a creature, creating illusion is a great way to achieve this.

Thank you for reading, and don’t forget to…

Write On!