Writers Believe
Do you believe in fairies? Then clap your hands three times…
I recently did a guest blog post about writers being more than just words on paper. There is a part of us that translates into what we write. The response was really surprising, but why should it be? Part of loving a book, of enjoying the reading process, is faith.
As a reader, we believe in the world the author has created. In our mind’s eye, everyone walks and talks in three dimensions. We breathe deep and take in all of the sweet scents and odors. Harsh words sting, and long gazes and soft touches make our hearts skip a beat.
Writers must believe in their own stories. Beyond being a “salesman,” the storyteller has to live in that world they are bringing to paper before they can write about it. You may be able to fool Mother Nature some of the time, but for certain you can never fool the reader. If a writer isn’t sure her own people and places exist, it will show. The reader is all-seeing, all-feeling. The reader knows.
My recent release, The Privateer, is set in the 1729 West Indies. I did have the opportunity to travel on top of the research I threw myself into. Learning and trying to implement facts into The Privateer was important, but with hindsight I appreciate more than anything the devotion I had to my characters and their fictional island home. I did learn that there is such a thing as over-commitment, losing ourselves too far and too deep can lead to over-indulgent writing, but on a whole the experience of bringing a fictional world to life was one of the most satisfying experiences I have ever had.
I believe. In my heart, my world, pirates still sail the green Caribbean waters, gentleman still champion causes for good, and ladies are strong and comfortable in their own beautiful skin. So clap your hands three times….
Come in.
Sincerely,
Danielle Thorne
The Privateer
April 30th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Hi Danielle. I agree with you about a writer need to believe in the world she/he creates. It has to be real. The passion and commitment in your work shines through.
I’m clapping my hands right now to be with your pirates, gentlemen and ladies…
May 1st, 2009 at 1:32 am
I think the writer has to beleive somewhat in what they are writing about or that would not be reflected to the reader. Whether it is fact or fiction, it has to have a certain believe ablility to draw the reader to the story. So I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE and am clapping my hands!!
May 1st, 2009 at 2:00 am
How true, Danielle. As a writer, you must immerse yourself within your story. Live and breathe it as you are putting it on paper. So I believe and my hands are clapping, once, twice, three times…
May 1st, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Well said, Danielle. I agree with you completely. And if we can’t go to all the places we write about, we can still experience all the emotions our characters have and write about them in a believable way.
Wishing you great success with your new book. Linda
May 1st, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Clap, clap, clap. I couldn’t have said it as well. Gerrie
May 7th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Danielle, yes, that’s much of the fun of fiction — the escape and faith that the author will truly carry us away and then bring us back safely. Like Captain Jack.