The Tale Awakes
Written by Serena Dawson.
I have never struggled to think up stories. I was a "day dreamer" as a child; and blessed with lots of boredom through my childhood, I became very good at creating imaginary worlds for my own entertainment.
Often these worlds started with something small; an interesting phrase I overheard, a glimpse of something out of the car window, a scrap of dialogue I imagined, or a photo that kick-started my imagination.
Sometimes the story idea would start slowly; with a feeling I wanted to explore, such as the yearning for a sense of belonging, or searching for one's sense of self.
It's a funny thing, once you've started drawing on your imagination, the ideas come more easily, and more often. Letting the ideas come however they need to, is the key. Either they come softly, like timid little bunnies hopping out of the undergrowth who must be made friends with, or swiftly as they swirl down like autumn leaves in a stiff breeze that you must pluck out of the air before they fall.
The scene that launched my current project, a fantasy trilogy, was the image of a woman on horseback, holding an infant. I had the feeling she was giving up the child, but why, and to whom? I had to keep writing to find out.
Sometimes the characters introduce themselves, such as the strong female warrior with her giant dog, that I wrote about in "The Bear Hunter." She kicked the male character I had begun with, right out of the story! I'm not sure what part of my subconscious she came from, but she was a much better replacement.
Although I do not struggle to think up stories, I have had times that inspiration was quiet, the muse was away, and no amount of staring at a blank page made any magic happen.
Sometimes we're depressed, or exhausted, or overwhelmed, or too anxious to pull forth a story from our ragged soul. It's ok in this place to rest, to find ways to replenish ourselves. The writing will still be there when we return.
Whether it's weeks, or months, or even years we've been away, the writing will still be there, and when we return to it, we return richer. Time never leaves us poorer as writers, because everything we live feeds into the well of experience we draw on.
If ideas come fast, note them down any way you can. Some ideas are like little flashes of brilliance, and we lie to ourselves that we won't forget them. Always write them down!
If ideas come slowly, let them build gradually. If they are good, more ideas will "stick" to them. So, you may start with an idea for a pirate character, or a world with two moons, or a fight between two brothers, but before you know it you have a plot.
When we start world building, a good idea naturally builds its own story world, as we ask the "why's" and the "how's," and the "what if's."
All this being said, if you are wanting to write, sitting and waiting for your muse to find you, seldom restarts the magic. Putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard is the best way to call forth the threads of a story.
It doesn't matter what words you start with; that's the brilliance of revising. Start putting any words down that you can. The good words will follow the bad. And when you rewrite, you bring out the best of the story you have discovered. But if you never start, because none of those words are "good enough," than you've cheated the world of the story only you can write.
So don't be afraid, just open yourself a little to the inspiration that is all around you. Chase the moments of interest, excitement, curiosity, and wonder. Have some faith in your imagination. Get your pen or keyboard out and set those ideas free!
This essay is © Serena Dawson 2022. The thumbnail is generously provided by Pixabay. The images used in the essay are created by R.M. Hamilton from other images.