Why We Write

Hey!

Are you paying attention?

A dear friend posted a question: if you had a fairy godmother (oh how I wish I did!), what would you wish?

Someone immediately criticized her for throwing out seemingly frivolous and lighthearted thoughts when our nation’s capital was under siege, our democracy threatened (again), and our country divided (again).

Let me say this: I wholeheartedly approve
of lighthearted frivolity.

There are limits, of course. Lighthearted frivolity is not appropriate for an elected official counting electoral college votes, or a police officer trying to protect people from harm. In other words, if you’re in a position to do something to ameliorate the problem, you have an obligation to try.

But for the rest of us, a smidge of foolishness may be just the ticket.

“A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.” Willy Wonka

(For an interesting dive into the history of that quote, check this out: https://quoteinvestigator.com/2016/09/27/nonsense/)

To be clear, I do not believe we should hide our heads in the sand like a determinedly ignorant flock of ostriches. (Ostriches don’t really do that, of course. Nor do emus, while we’re on the subject of long-necked flightless birds - a group of which is, interestingly, called a mob).

But most of us have been doing the opposite, especially in the last year or so: constantly on high alert, grieving each new tragedy, beset by fear and anxiety, and feeling powerless to help.

That is not sustainable.

In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl describes the concentration camp prisoners hoping for a few peas in their daily soup ration, and even imagining joking about it later, when they are finally released from the camp.

We must have hope, and we must have laughter.
Even in - perhaps especially in - the midst of trauma.

Which brings me back to the title of this post. For me and for many of my fellow writers, crafting stories is a way to weave hope into a seemingly hopeless situation, to insert laughter into grim reality.

As an aside, this is why I often write children’s stories, or adult stories in which children play a key role. I have an abiding, perhaps absurd, optimism that young people will succeed where we older folks have failed.

Just as importantly, as I’ve mentioned elsewhere on this site, writing allows us to imagine a better way - to impose peace where there is conflict, love where there is hate, and understanding where there is enmity.

One more aside: I am not a fan of literary fiction in which there is no resolution, only a portrait of unrelieved misery. I don’t always need a “happily ever after” ending - though I am quite fond of those! - but in my opinion the characters must experience some revelation, to give the reader catharsis.

In summary, a message to my friend, her critic, and the world: Bring on the fairy godmothers!

Photo by Krzysztof Niewolny