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Word Versus the Machine
One of the first things my creative writing instructor – Craig Lesley – taught me in college was that a writer should not have enough time to watch television.
At the time, I did not know why he needed to mention something like that. After all, my life schedule was writing, work, church, and editing. I didn’t even have time for social events (other than church). I got up early so I could do writing before work. Then, after work, I would do my homework and more writing. Even if there was a show or a movie that my sister (my roommate at the time) wanted me to watch with her, I took my laptop out to the living room and worked on my writing as we ‘watched’.
o.O
O innocence of youth!
It has been QUITE a few years since that class, and I have since experienced an epiphany about what Craig Lesley meant when uttering that statement. Actually, it should be classified as a warning.
There are so many compelling shows today dragging our attention from the challenge of designing and weaving our tales of adventure or romance. If you are anything like me, you sometimes capitulate to the ease of watching a show for the sake of ’research’, putting your current project down under the excuse of ‘brainstorming’ or taking a ‘mental break’ so that you can view it with fresh eyes in the morning.
HAH!
Over the last 2 weeks I have weaned myself down to ONE show, Once Upon A Time on ABC. That equates to shifting from about 8-10 hours of television per week to ONE HOUR.
Now, an important caveat to mention is that in addition to writing more, I have begun playing what I will call a medieval genre ‘storyline’ game on my PS3. Essentially, it is like a ‘choose your own adventure’ novel, as you are able to choose responses when interacting with traveling companions and characters you meet throughout the complicated story. These characters are controlled by the PS3′s AI system and react as appropriate to responses and questions you choose. This interaction consequently affects whether or not they approve or disapprove of you.
The effect is quite fascinating. Even more intriguing (at least for me as a writer specializing in communication in relationships) is the resulting amorous relationship my character’s responses have encouraged with a nice man in my party. Seeing the immediate consequences, be they positive or negative, from the options I choose engages my mind in the story and heightens my involvement in general.
Can you get that from watching a television show? Um… no.
The result? I notice my mind is more active! The game has encouraged my involvement by considering consequences, remembering story facts and side quests, deducting best possible options, etc. That heightened activity has directly increased how I interact with my own stories.
I FEEL SMARTER! Yay!
o.O
*ahem*
Once the newness factor [addiction] wears down for the game, I will be able to route even more time to my writing. But for the most part, I am enjoying the… intrigue and the desire to interact with a story that inspires my own view (the game is quite beautiful!) of settings, villains, and heroes. I am reminded of the years when I wrote dozens of fan fiction based on the characters and worlds of video games for the PSOne and PS2 because their story and characters engaged my creative heart. There were tortured souls for me to heal, lonely characters to lead to love, and unspoken histories to reveal.
No, I do not envision myself writing fan fiction again, unless the game would seek to publish stories based on their universe like Star Wars, Star Trek, etc… but the drive and passion for writing has been rejuvenated by these simple changes to my routine, and I like it!
- PS3: $299 (sans the $$ from the Wii system I traded in)
- Game: $19.95
- Inspiration’s return: $PRICELESS
What do you do to give yourself a brain break that helps you get inspired?
Writer's Call
I am a writer.
My life would be empty without this call. There would be no purpose. no ending to guide my daily struggle. No story toward which to strive. Each day something beckons, and that – I know – is the waiting tale.
One last happy ending.
My characters have a life outside of my own. They have dreams and failures that motivate the like of which I cannot even dream. They have a path I would not dare follow. In that respect I have something to learn from their waiting destiny, and it is that destiny I strive to tell, to the fullest extent, so that someone like myself – sheltered in Christiandom – can learn something about the other side.
Janine, Marcus, the unnamed villain… all of which have taught me something of the darker side of destiny.
I am a writer, and I adore the spinning of the unwritten tale – that lesson waiting to be divulged to others. What tale will this day reveal? I have but to open my heart and mind and listen.
