And I think the reason is my own faith. Part of my assembly code includes a belief that there's more to this world than we can see or understand. I feel like there must be.
So even when I write a story about a forgotten colony of Earth, something creeps in that is bigger than we are and beyond our understanding. Even when I try to set a story in modern-day Thailand, people start fires with their mind or something.
I'm not sure I could write a non-speculative, contemporary story even if I wanted to. Eventually, some character would discover unusual powers or receive visions of the future or at the very least witness something that may or may not be a miracle.
I can't help it.
What's your genre? And why do you write it?
I write fantasy and sci-fi because those are the stories I enjoy the most. I get enough of the real world in my life, so I don't care to read stories set in the real world. I want an escape into something different.
ReplyDeleteEverything's been some form of fantasy or sci-fi.
ReplyDeleteIMO, Fantasy/sci-fi allows for more liberties to examine the scope of the human condition (or to have more fun; hello, Piers Anthony, David Eddings, etc.)...
Ideally, you can Harry Potter it and have fun and meaning, but I am a dark writer. I always have been, always will be.
I call my story Rural Fantasy, but it's not really fantasy in the sense of elves and dragons. You'll see what I mean when you beta read it for me.
ReplyDeleteNow, I would like to think that I would write many other genres at some point down the line, but I suppose I'll have to wait and see.
I used to think I was skipping around genres, but in reality every thing I write is speculative fiction (except of course that love story that I published! But that had a different purpose). My MG fantasy is really SF. My paranormal novel? Really SF. I'm not sure why it took me so long to figure that out. :)
ReplyDeleteYou make me smile because I'm the same way. I once tried to do a story based on how much I hated my job at the time - it turned into a Twilight Zone-ish take on how we get trapped in jobs like that. *shrugs* Maybe it turns out that the genre is the one thing I'm trapped in and willingly, lovingly so.
ReplyDeleteMost things I write have a bit of fantasy to them. I have started but not finished a couple contemporaries. Maybe if I put in some fantasy I could finish them.
ReplyDeleteThat's so interesting, Adam! I think that's great that you love and write fantasy. I don't know why I love and write contemporary. I guess I find the nuances of human nature so fascinating ... Fantasy doesn't really come into it. Weird but great how we're all so different. :)
ReplyDeleteAmy
Most things I write have a science fiction or historical bent to them--almost all are set at some point in the future or the far past. This is my focus because I love creating worlds. I love everything about it--from drawing maps and creating histories to dropping my characters into the world and letting them bounce around like bumper cars.
ReplyDeleteUnlike you, all my peep are usually "normal" humans. Even if they are fantastical in some way--there is always a scientific explanation for the augmentation.
While I enjoy reading about a person who is fantastical in some way "just because"--I just can't seem to write it that way.
I think I will always have some sort of fantasy too. I think it's because I wish we lived in a world where magic was real. And if I write that world, then it's almost like it IS real. Why would I want to write a story that feels like real life? :)
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