If you're anything like me,
novels with magic do something happy and tingly to your insides. It's hard to
pinpoint, but I'm going to attempt to flesh out the "Why?" and
"How?" behind this magic satisfaction.
They say (I've always been fascinated by this phrase,
"They say..." I'd like to meet They, and give 'em a piece o' my
mind!) that imagination dies with adulthood. For many of us, that's true.
Unfortunately, adulthood requires a lot of growing up, mostly because of
responsibility. Most of us are so caught up in "the real" that we
forget how to use our imagination. But is our imagination really dead, or just
hibernating in a deep, dark cave?
Perhaps you're one of those people who, like me, pulls out the camera to slyly record your adolescent child playing with his toys. Why? It's cute, no doubt, but again, why? Because for that moment, your child has allowed himself to ignore the world around him. Social protocol, peer/sibling pressure, countless reprimands to grow up or act his age--all of them are gone. Your child has lost himself in his imagination.
Unfortunately, that sort of behavior is prohibited for us adults. Can you imagine your boss's reaction if s/he walked into your office and saw you sitting on the ground, legs crossed, feet bare, hosting a puppet show with your business socks? That's why I like having kids so much. They give me an excuse to act like a child in circumstances that would otherwise be considered unacceptable behavior.
Remember the movie, Hook, with Robin Williams? Remember how much you loved it? Have you
Perhaps you're one of those people who, like me, pulls out the camera to slyly record your adolescent child playing with his toys. Why? It's cute, no doubt, but again, why? Because for that moment, your child has allowed himself to ignore the world around him. Social protocol, peer/sibling pressure, countless reprimands to grow up or act his age--all of them are gone. Your child has lost himself in his imagination.
Unfortunately, that sort of behavior is prohibited for us adults. Can you imagine your boss's reaction if s/he walked into your office and saw you sitting on the ground, legs crossed, feet bare, hosting a puppet show with your business socks? That's why I like having kids so much. They give me an excuse to act like a child in circumstances that would otherwise be considered unacceptable behavior.
Remember the movie, Hook, with Robin Williams? Remember how much you loved it? Have you
Thus enter magic books. For the same reason we grownups love
Hook, we also love magic books. They let us do things that we can't do in the
real world. And that's why I love writing them! Have you ever wanted to control
what happens in your dreams? That's exactly what I get to do!
Guest post by Terron James
"Inspiring an unwavering passion for reading across
the globe, one community at a time."
Author of BEHOLDERS - www.TerronJames.com
Excelsior Academy -
Junior High English
As a fantasy writer on the edge of adulthood (22), I love this post. Writing fantasy IS a lot like controlling your own dreams, and reading it is always a wonderful escape. Your excitement is contagious! I hope I stay in love with fantasy as I get older.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I struck a chord with you, K.J. I promise that if you love fantasy now, you'll love it even more as you grow older. Just make sure you schedule time to keep reading!
ReplyDelete