I've been enjoying reading Patricia Briggs who writes urban fantasy which she describes as a fusion of horror, noir mystery, detective mystery, and fantasy with bits of romance thrown in. Here's what she has to say about an important thing fiction of any kind does:
"Fiction, good fiction, allows the reader to see the world through someone else's eyes. When I read I can be a black man or a young child. I can be an old woman or a deer named Bambi. Understanding how someone else thinks is the first step to accepting their differences. In a world that between faster communication and growing population, decreases in size every day, and in the light of the events of 9/11, it is imprtant for us to be able to walk a mile in another's moccasins. Books are, in my opinion, the single best medium to develop the understanding necessary to live together on our earth."
Keep writing....
I think as long as we can invest emotionally in the character, we can enter that world fully. As you say, we can become anyone or anything, and be the richer for the experience. The term 'flights of fancy' is often used in a derogatory sense, but the ability to use the creative imagination - whether as writer or reader - can give us a deeper understanding of one another and the world. It can open doors!
ReplyDeleteWell said Derek - thank you :-)
Deletethe key is to have an endless imagination and a better grasp of what's real and what not. A reader without creativity, doesn't understand what the writer is trying to convey on his/her books no matter how detailed it is when he/she wrote it.
DeleteAn interesting point. Yes, perhaps if more people read books, and could see the world through other people's eyes, it would be a better place!
ReplyDeleteWe live in hope Simon - thank you for leaving a comment :-)
DeleteVery interesting, Diane. I do agree about the powerful influence reading good books can have on people.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosemary x
DeleteInteresting quote, Diane. I think part of the joy of reading is the ability to walk in another's shoes and good writing enables us to do just that x
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does Teresa x
DeleteThat quote really gives us something to think about. I agree, and think fiction serves many purposes, including teaching us and enriching our lives. Glad you shared this!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
Thank you Karen and I do agree with you, fiction serves many purposes. :-)
DeleteInteresting approach and perspective. Seeing things through other people's eyes seems to be something few take time to try these days. I'm thankful I had a mother that pounded that lesson (wisdom) into my otherwise thick skull. Makes a world of difference, it does.
ReplyDeleteHello Jeff - yes if only more people saw things through other people's eyes! :-)
DeleteExactly! I couldn't agree more. LOVE books.
ReplyDeleteWhat would we do without them hey Talli x
DeleteThis is a thought provoking post. Sometimes I feel drained after suffering the same emotions and dilemmas that the main character goes through.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dream it - I enjoy the way books get us to experience different emotions and live for a while in somebody else's shoes :-)
DeleteInteresting article, Dianne :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Merlene. I am glad you enjoyed it :-)
DeleteThank you for the fantastic article. The place else could anyone get that kind of info in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such information.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, Diane. I certainly enjoy walking in other writers' shoes.
ReplyDeleteHello Valerie - thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment :-)
DeleteThanks Shaving kit :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree, if you read, or write you become the character in the story, and walk in their shoes.
ReplyDeleteThinking like that makes it even more special to be a writer Maria - giving us as writers something to think about and taking the reader by the hand to share that experience. :-)
DeleteGreat post, Diane - very thought provoking. XX
ReplyDeleteThank you Suzanne x
DeleteNow that's a quote I can get behind. Nice one! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks David :-)
DeleteFiction can allow us to go places and do things we'd not otherwise have the chance to experience.
ReplyDeleteSo true Patsy :-)
DeleteI think in fiction we discuss about our imagination, we discuss that if it happens what will we do? In fiction we live in the world of our imagination.
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Thanks Michael :-)
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