How to Write Nostalgia in Fiction
I’ve been thinking about the appeal of popular franchises: is it the story? The actors? The high-budget special effects? While each of those play a role, I think a large portion of the films and shows coming out today are sought out in part due to nostalgia—we remembered being swept away by them as a kid, so we’re hoping to revisit those feelings of wonder and adventure.
As I’m writing this, there’s yet another Jurassic Park film hitting theaters (no, I haven’t seen it yet—yes, I will). Last summer was the summer of Barbie. I have quite a few Star Wars shows on my watch list and I hear there’s a new film in the works (staring Ryan Gosling, so you know I’ll be watching it!). We’re between Wicked films, which is full of nods to the Wizard of Oz, a movie cherished by most movie-enthusiasts. While there’s always a yearning for fresh new stories, there’s something cozy and welcoming about these familiar settings—I’ve started asking myself how we, as writers, can hone our craft to provide readers with this sense of nostalgia.
Of course, it’s one thing to work with a large recognizable brand or franchise—it’s quite another for an independent author to evoke feelings without resorting to fanfiction or infringing on copyright. But here’s still room for this nostalgic element in novel stories. Here are a few ways I’ve gone about incorporating nostalgia in the Abby Spector Ghost Mystery Books:
‘Universal’ settings and activities often associated with a specific time period—In an effort to capture that adventurous carefree spirit of youth, the third book in the Abby Spector Ghost Mystery series is set at an outdoor summer camp. While not everyone attended a summer camp, most people who have attended did so during childhood—and those who didn’t are likely to still associate summer camps with movies they watched during their youth (does Parent Trap spring to mind?"), allowing me to trust that most readers will make the connection.
Pop-culture references: If your book is set in our world (as opposed to a Fantasy or Sci-fi one), pop-cultural references can ground the reader in a sense of place and time. It can also help form connections with a reader—if your character mentions she stayed up late reading the Lord of the Rings, you’ll earn nostalgia points with readers who love the Lord of the Rings. When using this technique, you want to be careful not to alienate readers who aren’t familiar with the pop culture reference. For instance, if you introduce a character as ‘looking like Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, readers who aren’t familiar with Buffy won’t have any idea what this new character looks like. To avoid readers missing out on important context, you can offer a description that stands on it’s own and allow the reference to heighten it—for example, by saying ‘her blonde hair, sparkly tank top, and tight leather pants made her look like Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ gives the audience the important information (in this case, what the character looks like) regardless of if they understand the reference or not.
Vivid details related to shared experiences: This is where you’ll rely on those sensory details to try and pull common associations. What do most people love about your setting? The weather? Season? Holiday decor? Specific activities? Camp Spirits is sprinkled with sights, sounds, and other sensory details that provide countless opportunities to evoke a sense of nostalgia in the reader.
Focus on your target audience’s shared experiences: It’s one thing to write something that feels nostalgic to you, but will it resonate with your readers? Since readers come from all cultures, ages, and backgrounds, it’s important to consider which of your nostalgic feelings and experiences will translate well to most readers, and which are more unique to you. For instance, as a kid, I would go ‘ghost hunting’ with my grandfather (we would carry around a flashlight and a bucket of water, and he’d tell me spooky stories while I checked out the woods around the playground). While this makes for a great memory—or even a fun scene—it’s unlikely to invoke nostalgia in readers since it was such a unique experience. Dressing up and going trick or treating, however, is something many more readers can relate to.
Make a list of what makes you feel nostalgic: If you’re not sure where to start, this is a good idea to get those creative ideas flowing. Just keep in mind the point above—once you have your list, think of which best suit your story and your target audience.
