There’s something magnetic about the strange. A whisper in the shadows, a town where the laws of physics seem to twist, a character who speaks in riddles only the wind understands—these elements spark curiosity. In storytelling, the unusual serves as a spotlight, drawing the reader’s attention and compelling them to lean closer, to question, to wonder. The familiar may comfort, but the unfamiliar unsettles—and in that unease lies opportunity. When we allow our stories to veer into the strange, we give them the freedom to reflect truths that conventional storytelling might gloss over.

Writers sometimes hesitate to wander too far from the familiar path, worried their readers might not follow. But often, it's the stories that take bold, bizarre turns that linger in memory. The strange is not a barrier to understanding—it's a gateway to deeper connection.

Creating the Uncanny with Purpose

Embracing the unusual in writing isn’t about being weird for weirdness’ sake. The truly compelling strange elements are those that carry meaning. A protagonist who turns into glass when touched by sunlight might seem like an odd choice, but in the right narrative, it can become a metaphor for fragility, trust, or the weight of secrets. The unusual becomes powerful when it reflects a deeper emotional or thematic resonance.

When world-building, think about how the strange details interact with the logic of your world. A town where people trade memories instead of currency might initially strike the reader as bizarre, but if it fits within the story’s internal rules and enhances the emotional stakes, it becomes not just acceptable—but unforgettable.

Characters at the Edge of Reality

Characters who are “off” in some way—eccentric, magical, or not entirely human—can serve as mirrors for our own unspoken thoughts and fears. They let us explore identity, loss, love, or madness from new angles. A child who befriends a shadow with a name, or an immortal being trapped in a bakery, invites readers to suspend disbelief and feel something genuine through the oddness.

These characters remind us that normal is not a requirement for relatability. Often, it is their strangeness that allows them to express emotions or truths in ways more “realistic” characters cannot.