The joys of writing are – obvious, right? They include, having fun, enjoying the power to be a creative genius who dreams up new worlds, or finds wonderful new ways to present ever-popular themes.
For example, it looks as if the Tudor theme – mad kings, several hapless wives, beheadings, the search for the elusive male heir and lots of illegitimate siblings…. is set to run and run, but how would it be if we re-wrote that context with a twist, (as Robert Harris wrote ‘Fatherland’ supposing that the Axis powers had won the Second World War).
What if Edward VI had lived into old age, or hapless Lady Jane Grey had stayed on the throne? What if we took all the historical facts but planted them in a different social or sexual context, Amazon women, the Matriarchy in the fantastic, sci fi future? It might make an interesting twist.
Do we create, or are we merely scribes of our characters, inviting them out and giving voice to them? Of course, we take the credit, get the pleasure of putting all that down, and by doing so, we can indulge in the ultimate wish fulfilment.
You want to be a wealthy, successful, beautiful, clever and talented actress with dozens of admirers and a true love in the background who loves you for being you and …. Well, go for it! Authors create new worlds, so we can indulge in every fancy and whim we like, and that, whatever becomes of the final result, is the most marvellous fun. Context and believability may come into everything later on, of course, but in the throes of creative passion, who cares what happens. The thrill is in making it happen and bringing it to life. Wow, we can do anything we want to! Isn’t that fantastic?
Thanks for reading.
Please share:
January 14, 2017 @ 3:05 pm
I am indeed a helpless scribe – I have almost no control over the world in which my characters exist or the characters themselves. In my current WIP I have tried to take control a little by setting the story in places that I know quite well – will it work – hmm – we shall see.
January 14, 2017 @ 3:16 pm
I think it’s bound to work, in a sense, since we really only write what we know. But, oh, I take your point gladly. I’m pleased to know that my characters can be as unreasonable as I so often am, and that I have no control over them whatever! 🙂 The joys of writing, indeed. xx
January 16, 2017 @ 5:47 pm
You are right and I do enjoy reading fiction but have never tried to write it. My fear of crying wolf or perhaps being spanked for telling porkies as a child. Although I did used to invent extra venial sins for confession because I thought I didn’t have enough misdemeanors to tell the priest. I can’t remember telling any whoppers but I should have done to make Father Murphy’s job a bit more interesting and entertaining.
January 16, 2017 @ 5:51 pm
LOL! Thanks for popping in, Tam, and for reading. Nice of you to consider making the Priest’s job more interesting by telling porkies…. which he would have worried about, or smirked knowingly. Hope you are doing well. 😀
January 19, 2017 @ 11:33 pm
You’re having entirely too much fun! That’s what I think!!! 🙂
Elouise
January 20, 2017 @ 11:43 am
Gotta have fun, girl! Motivation being that fleeting beast it is, anything that helps to lighten the day is a blessing. ((xx))