The Line Between Fiction and Reality
I enjoy writing, but my introverted activity leads to a question. What is the line between my enjoyable fantasy and the harsh reality of daily life? Well, let’s write a quick example.
“Fred was hit in the arm by an attacker wielding a crowbar, then fell hard onto the cement steps. Deep in pain, Fred did not understand what happened.” How did I develop that dramatic incident? I pictured myself getting into a fight and wrote my thoughts. Why did Fred get attacked with a crowbar and not a gun? Simple. I used a crowbar yesterday, and this seemed like an appropriate weapon.
How did it feel to write this fictional description? It was as if every action and emotion became real, but when I finished, I even imagined the pain. After, I no longer thought about the topic. But what about some activity that is impossible to experience? (Something I cannot possibly do.)
How would I describe a woman being kissed? I start by visualizing the action from my male perspective and then alter my thinking to how I imagine a woman would feel during this event. This transformation is aided by life experiences, female characters (in other works), and women I have met.
The result is the best I can accomplish, but it will never be perfect, which leads to a critical question. Am I truly a woman being kissed? I suppose I am. Meaning that I am doing my absolute mental best to be a woman undergoing a kiss. Thus, I have eliminated all differences.
What about the consequences? Am I in too deep? Do I consider myself to be female? Have I crossed a moral line? Are women angry with me for invading their gender? Can I ever recover? I briefly “became” a woman while writing without intending to remain in this mindset.
This brief transformation allows me to be violent, unstable, immoral, non-human, and live an alternative lifestyle. Fictional authors must go to impossible places and be different people; otherwise, their stories would not be entertaining. Yet, I see there is an apparent difference between my fantasies and my daily activities. For example, I am fully aware of my gender and have not been hit by a crowbar.
What about my main characters? They hold a different mental position because I think about them for many hours. Does this make them real people from my perspective? To be a good writer, the answer is yes.
Does this mean I want to be my main character? I lead a boring life and would love to be a billionaire. How about super confidant or mega-good looks? Epic adventures? You bet!
Still, while a few more bucks would be nice, I am happy with my present life, and I understand it is unhealthy to think of unrealistic concepts as real. Remember that being adventitious, superconfident, or reckless has downsides. For example, getting hit by a crowbar would not make my day.
Still, it is nice to have a rich fantasy life. The trick is to understand that it is all in my mind.
You’re the best -Bill
Setember 30, 2020 Updated May 11, 2025
“Fred was hit in the arm by an attacker wielding a crowbar, then fell hard onto the cement steps. Deep in pain, Fred did not understand what happened.” How did I develop that dramatic incident? I pictured myself getting into a fight and wrote my thoughts. Why did Fred get attacked with a crowbar and not a gun? Simple. I used a crowbar yesterday, and this seemed like an appropriate weapon.
How did it feel to write this fictional description? It was as if every action and emotion became real, but when I finished, I even imagined the pain. After, I no longer thought about the topic. But what about some activity that is impossible to experience? (Something I cannot possibly do.)
How would I describe a woman being kissed? I start by visualizing the action from my male perspective and then alter my thinking to how I imagine a woman would feel during this event. This transformation is aided by life experiences, female characters (in other works), and women I have met.
The result is the best I can accomplish, but it will never be perfect, which leads to a critical question. Am I truly a woman being kissed? I suppose I am. Meaning that I am doing my absolute mental best to be a woman undergoing a kiss. Thus, I have eliminated all differences.
What about the consequences? Am I in too deep? Do I consider myself to be female? Have I crossed a moral line? Are women angry with me for invading their gender? Can I ever recover? I briefly “became” a woman while writing without intending to remain in this mindset.
This brief transformation allows me to be violent, unstable, immoral, non-human, and live an alternative lifestyle. Fictional authors must go to impossible places and be different people; otherwise, their stories would not be entertaining. Yet, I see there is an apparent difference between my fantasies and my daily activities. For example, I am fully aware of my gender and have not been hit by a crowbar.
What about my main characters? They hold a different mental position because I think about them for many hours. Does this make them real people from my perspective? To be a good writer, the answer is yes.
Does this mean I want to be my main character? I lead a boring life and would love to be a billionaire. How about super confidant or mega-good looks? Epic adventures? You bet!
Still, while a few more bucks would be nice, I am happy with my present life, and I understand it is unhealthy to think of unrealistic concepts as real. Remember that being adventitious, superconfident, or reckless has downsides. For example, getting hit by a crowbar would not make my day.
Still, it is nice to have a rich fantasy life. The trick is to understand that it is all in my mind.
You’re the best -Bill
Setember 30, 2020 Updated May 11, 2025
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