The book Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation has caught my attention. It may have been written as an analysis of marketing techniques that build brands, but as a crime fiction author, I’m taking note. I want my novels to fascinate readers, so I’m keeping this list on hand as I craft my next story. Here are the seven triggers that draw people in:
- Lust: the anticipation of pleasure, which we crave
- Mystique: unanswered questions, which intrigue us and makes us want to solve the puzzle
- Alarm: the threat of negative consequences, which demands immediate response
- Prestige: symbols of rank and respect, which earn us status and admiration
- Power: command over people and things, which draws our focus
- Vice: rebellion against rules, which tempts us toward “forbidden fruit”
- Trust: certainty and reliability, to which we give our loyalty
What do you think? Aren’t these triggers also the building blocks of a great story and/or character?
Thanks for sending me this link. I enjoyed the seven triggers :), and my novel has most of them and even one extra 🙂 Blessings, Barb
Absolutely, I am copying them and sharing them with my critique group. It’s always good to ask yourself these kinds of questions as your crafting your story.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author