It's my turn to pick the blog chain topic this time. So, yes. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Since Halloween is just around the corner, we're going to explore our deepest fears.
I was in junior high the first time I heard Franklin Roosevelt's quote, "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself..."
At the time, I rolled my eyes and muttered, "What about snakes . . . and the dark . . . and the blue bedroom at my house? Yeah, those things are pretty scary, too, Mr. Roosevelt."
But things have changed since then. I now understand what he was talking about.
But I still have "what about...?" questions regarding fears. They just have different endings. My fears are more like internal worries: Am I earning enough money to eventually retire? Am I raising my children to the best of my abilities? Will they get into a good college and be successful? (But I still don't like snakes or the dark or sleeping the blue bedroom at my parents' house.)
Fact of the matter is, fear is fear. It causes stress. It causes tension. And every person fears something.
But the end of Roosevelt's quote tells us we must move past our fears: "...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."
Our characters aren't any different. As writers, we put our characters in situations where they must face their fears -- sometimes internal, sometimes external. Sometimes the two mix, and then all hell breaks loose.
That brings me to my question this time around: What are the primary fears that drive your characters? Do they battle aliens or gangsters or monsters? Or do they battle unreconciled issues in their lives? Which do you prefer writing about? What do you fear?
While I wouldn't be opposed to writing about monsters, everything I've written has been about characters who are driven by internal fears made larger than life by external events.
One of the new stories I'm working on has a girl, the child of a single mother, who worries she will suffer the same illness that claimed her mom's life. This fear drives her to discover the other half of her identity. In the Nano story I've begun plotting in my head, the main character fears she has been lied to throughout her entire life and is driven to find out why.
I prefer exploring the impact internal fears can have on the lives of those around the central character. It's interesting to see how one poor decision can mess up everyone else's plans. (Although, it really sucks when it happens in my own life.)
What about you and your characters?
Christine will take it from here. Enjoy!
15 comments:
Nice topic - and I am so glad I am up tomorrow!
nice topic :D Me, I'm terrified of spiders and heights...and I'm a bit claustrophobic. Subtract the spiders and add the fact that I suck at math and that axed my juvenile dreams of being an astronaut :D
I don't think I've ever read a book where the character wasn't afraid of something, internally or externally, at some point in the story. Fear is just a part of life. And it can make the stories we read and write authentic, exciting, and very interesting :)
Great topic and post! I can't wait to see where this one goes with the other blog chain people.
Heights don't bother me; it's being underground that I fear. I don't like tunnels and I won't ride the subway.
Interesting topic!
I get a little leery with heights, and I have this odd fear of down esclators. I scraped my leg on one when I was a child, so now when I use one, I have to wait until I'm sure I'm not stepping on a crack before I can get onto it.
I like to explore a little bit of both internal and external with my characters. My character fears failure, and because if she fails at being a warrior, she will then have to move back in with her three abusive brothers and her alcoholic father.
Nice post and topic, Kat! Your project sounds great!
Great topic Kat! This is great tie-in to last round's topic. Personally, I'm terrified of spiders. Oh, and flying. And heights. And... I guess I'll save the rest for my post ;)
Fear is one of those "real" emotions that are so intense they're easy to relate to. When a character is genuinely afraid, the reader thinks, "I know just how you feel." It's a key ingredient to a great, well-rounded story.
I love the way you describe your stories. Can't wait to see how they turn out!
Whoa--I have the same fears as you do, Michelle! Except my heights thing is more a sliding off high/steep things fear.
Wonderful topic, Kat! :D
Oh boy. I love the internal fears along with external (demons/vampires/etc). They can get so complex sometimes and that's half the fun!
Great post.
I would really like to know what's going on with the blue bedroom at your parents' house.
Great topic for Halloween. Fear is something that everyone can relate to in such a visceral way. Like not everyone may understand why we writers work so hard, but everyone can relate to the fear of failing.
Wow, I missed commenting until now? Sorry. I read it a while ago, but I guess I forgot to put in my thoughts. Anyway, great choice of questions. Everyone has really enjoyed this one, I think. I really like your story concept as well. I'm not usually as good at exploring internal fears (at least I don't think so), but hopefully I'll get better with practice. Nice post.
Great topic and I love how you tied it into Halloween! I also want to know what is so scary about the blue bedroom;)
Kat, wonderful character questions.
I would say my MC has internal and external conflicts and fears. She's driven to survive in a city with no formal government, where finding food is a daily battle. Some of the decisions she has to make go completely against her believes.
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