Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Tuesday’s Take: A Filtered World

Everything needs a filter these days, my coffeemaker, my air conditioner, and my water dispenser on the fridge. That one has a blinking light that indicates it needs to be changed. It has been blinking for months now. Which got me thinking, do I need a filter?

I can be blunt. I know, shocking, right? But this is something I admire in others. I don’t want to play games, I don’t want the truth to be clouded…I don’t want to see the world through a filter. It might be nicer if we could but then how would we know what was real…and what wasn’t?

Maybe this is why the books I most enjoy and the stories I write all have a fantasy element. Our flawed world but with something more under the surface. But no matter what the fantasy arc or paranormal twist, the characters must be honest and real. How would your sister react if she found out she turned into a werewolf once a month? Or your mom discovered you could raise the dead but you still can’t manage to clean your room?

I want my writing to be just like my water…from the tap and a little gritty. No, wait.

Real and unfiltered.  Yeah, that's it.

4 comments:

  1. I know just what you mean. I often feel I'm blundering by telling the truth.

    But that's where fiction writing shines. No holding back there. I let it all out.

    "From the tap and a little gritty." I like that!

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  2. I had to re-grit my story on a previous re-write. Reads sooo much better now :)

    http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com

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  3. Not really blunt. But brutally honest. Don't ask a question unless you actually want the answer.

    Totally agree with the realism. Just posted about it in fact. Great minds...

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  4. I crave and want raw unfiltered works of literary art, with a side of smart ass on the side please. ;) That's not too much to ask for, right???? I need to read YOUR books.

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It helps to know I'm not just talking to myself.