I was stumped when a friend asked me whether I choose the
stories I wanted to work upon or the stories chose me. This question is similar
to asking what came first; the chicken or the egg?
Do we choose our
stories, or do the stories choose us? It’s a bit of both. The initial advances
are made by the story; the plot flirts with us, the characters whisper sweet
nothings in our ears at ungodly hours, the story world tempts us into further
exploring it and the antagonist stalks us like a desperate lover.
After the story has successfully batted its eyelashes and
tantalizingly swayed its hips and has captured our body, mind, heart and soul,
it begins its game of teasing and playing hard to get. The evil temptress (read
story) knows that it has captivated us completely and we are in its vicious
grip.
The story then starts playing with our emotions. It starts
avoiding our calls. It does the disappearing act when we fix rendezvous with
it. It runs away, with us writers chasing after it day and night. But now that we writers have been teased and
tormented by its intoxicating effect, we will not rest until we have the story
in our control, until the characters and plot are at our beck and call.
From then onwards with a single minded goal we nurture,
obsess and develop the all captivating brief fling into a meaningful
relationship. There are make ups and break ups (read revisions and edits) but
we writers are a faithful lot. We don’t lose faith in our stories and cling on
to our relationship with the story, even when we hit rough patches in the form
of writer’s blocks or when we have struck plot loopholes. We are the faithful type, even when other
stories tempt us, we cling on to our first loves.
What about you all? Do stories try their seduction
techniques on you? How do you all chase the temptress? Do share your wooing
techniques with us.
P.S. This post is
getting me ready to write a milder version of Fifty Shades of Grey ;)
P.P.S. Thanks Elizabeth Varadan for nominating me for the Super Sweet Blogging Award. I will be nominating a few bloggers next week.
P.P.S. Thanks Elizabeth Varadan for nominating me for the Super Sweet Blogging Award. I will be nominating a few bloggers next week.
A storyline is akin to a seductress as you rightly said Rachna! You have enticed us now to await your version of Fifty Shades;)
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of story ideas I reject. They seem like they've got potential until I spend a little time with them and then I show them the door. Got to be cruel to be kind.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
I've had experience only with short stories and stories always choose me. Once, I had a dream and I wrote it as a story in my blog, once I woke up! Sometimes, I try to create stories but they are not that interesting (even to me!).
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Loved your post and how you describe it all. You're so talented as a writer. Good luck with your new project.
ReplyDeleteThe ideas choose me but ultimately I decide which idea to write into a story. Though some ideas are more seductively playful than others at getting my attention!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Yes, the idea jumps out, does a dance, and then hides.
ReplyDeleteHahaha, yes, the stories seduce me, I think. I must add I am not easy. I resist them as much as I can, but they keep getting in my head and in my dreams, day and night. They're stubborn. So am I but I end up writing them down before they drive me totally bunkers. :) Dragon hugs!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a cute post and gave me a new way of looking at the phenomenon we all like to call The Muse. My stories play hard to get, too. I usually let them have a lot of slack and then reel them in, so to speak. :-)
ReplyDeleteA story can be like a seductress, tempting us only to play hard to get later on! Great post Rachna.
ReplyDeleteThis really made me giggle. Batting eyelashes and swinging hips. Haha! Great post, Rachna! :-)
ReplyDeleteWow. I LOVE this post, Rachna.
ReplyDeleteYou describe the process really well. A story haunts us and tries to seduce us. The characters stalk us. Then we become attached to it and we strive to create something meaningful.
Wonderful post. I really enjoyed it.
This is a beautifully apt analogy Rachna.
ReplyDelete.......dhole
Hi Rachna! Really nice post!! Your love for the writing process shines through! :)
ReplyDeleteBless you!
Lol, I love the way you described the story itself as a sort of seductive jerk that eventually comes around:) I never would have thought of it that way in a million years:)
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely a mixture of both, and stories can be such teases!
ReplyDeleteA storyline makes us think we r dominting ...and then she plays with our mind..and then she has her own way..and we just watch.
ReplyDeleteI loved the post!
lately I've had to chase down my stories and club them over the head. Not so romantic, but it gets the job done ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat post Rachna! I have so many ideas floating around in my head. I think I choose which are the best to tell a story about. But they don't hide from me thank goodness. Although my muse does sometimes. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove this analogy! It's oh so true.
ReplyDeleteHi friends, stories can be bullies at times, but we have to be firm and grab them by the collar and make them work with us ;)
ReplyDelete