Why Do I love Dark? I don’t know…
I have never killed. Murdered or slayed. There are a few swatted flies that have felt the sting of my murderous wrath. But as far as I can recall, I haven’t actually killed. Nor have I had dark, murderous thoughts (about real people), or wanted to meet a real vampire, or run around naked at night with a were-creature. Nope. For the most part I gravitate toward the normal, routine everyday activities most sensible human beings partake in – well, except for my need to obsess about certain television characters (Spike, Joe Dubois, John Crichton, Alec Hardison—and BTW, the first to name the TV shows these characters appear in – will win a prize!).
But let’s get back to my premise. What attracts me to those dark characters, plots, stories? What makes my brain fall in love with a character and then what to drag him or her through the deepest, darkest hell on Earth. I’ve been thinking about that question, and believe I’ve found a partial answer.
A few years back I remember taking a course or reading a book in which the question on the table was…what do you believe in? Answer that question by listing the top 10 ‘things’ that come to mind right away, the instructor said, and you may well find the topics/subject matter that will lie at the heart of your stories…every story that you ever write…because that list reflects your fundamental beliefs.
You know we’ve all heard the line, “write what you know” but this took another spin on that statement for me with — write what you believe…
Here’s my top five from that list:
1) Ghosts
2) God
3) Friendship
4) Deceit
5) Sarcasm
I want to know your top five…
But I don’t think my list of five provides that many clues as to why I gravitate toward the dark side of reading and/or writing romance (or does it:).
I will need to explore this topic further but I wanted to get the ball rolling because I’m about to put one of my characters through the ringer (yippee!).
Top Five Things I believe in . . . Wow! Denny, that is good! Okay, I’ll try:
1.God
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Metaphysics/Fate
5. That no matter what . . . the world will still be here tomorrow.
I can see where I get some of my ideas for my books through that. (To answer your other question–bonus: I can’t. Spike was from Buffy. I know that but I have a feeling the others are from various paranormal shows too. I write them, I don’t watch them. I feel if I did, I would be stealing ideas or something . . . weird, I know. I do like to read paranormal romance though. 🙂
Wow. Great question, I’m not sure I understand what it means, but before I think about it too much, off the top of my head. I believe in: babies, sisterhood, family, regret, tragedy, helplessness, dreams, constancy, unconditional love. Okay, that’s more than five, and I’m still not sure what the question means… but I can see how this list relates to what I write.
As to the bonus question, I started googling the answers, ha ha, but then decided that I was just trying to procrastinate. We’ll let the prize go to somebody who actually knows!
Thanks for commenting. I like the ‘list’ because the supposed point is that you or the “writer” will be able to write about the topics on their personal list with conviction. That’s what I recall from the exercise, so I’m using my ‘list’ for The Garden Party – the short story I’m working on for the Mermaids ‘free read’. BTW – I really like your list:)
Yep, I too only know Spike is from Buffy. If I had to guess without googling (was thinking the same thing, P.H.) I would go with True Blood, Firefly and Game of Thrones. Close?
Anyhoo, five things I believe in without thinking too much (tough one):
1. Love
2. God
3. Goodness
4. Truth
5. Happy Endings
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers? Really? What is wrong with you people from Pittsburgh? 🙂
Oh, Avery. I take exception to that! It’s called loyalty!
Go Pittsburgh!!!
Steelers Rule!
You gave it the old college try on the characters from TV but alas you missed all – I will share one of the four because his character is the only one that is NOT from a sci-fi show – Alec Hardison is from the show Leverage, and his character is the ‘hacker’ of the group of thieves on the show.
Well, I do expect to read a story from you one day about the Steelers or at least a love story featuring a pro football player – just make him the tight end instead of the QB (just for me:)…I love that position – plus tight ends have some incredible bodies, and yes, I totally am digressing here…
I’ve published a couple articles on the Steelers if that counts. Hmmm, never really thought about putting them in a romance but now that you mention it….
Great post Denny! Very thought provoking.
1. Love
2. God
3. Karma
4. Friendship
5. There is more to earth than what we can see and hear and prove (ghosts, etc)
glad you liked…thanks for commenting.
Nice Denny! Here are mine.
1. The power of chocolate
2. To always listen to your gut
3. Never give people the power to control your mood
4. Friends are the family we choose
5. Love conquers all
Great list! I like how you have chocolate number one…Thanks for commenting.
God
Birth, sex and death are equally natural events
Happy endings are subjective
LOVE this blogpost Denny!
Love your response…intriguing.
For those who were curious about the challenge the TV shows are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Medium, Farscape, and Leverage.
Denny,
Sorry I’m so late chiming in. I’m trying to climb back onto the earth I fell off of a couple of months ago.
My list:
1. Karma
2. Imagination
3. Belief in things beyond the normal–paranormal, I guess
4. Friendships/family
5. Love
6. Chocolate (I have to go with Avery on this one even though she totally dissed the Steelers)