Darkness or Light? That Is the Question!

Considering Darkness Versus Light in December

When I took a course in reading theater years ago, we read a critic whose hypothesis was that dark political times bring lighter theater pieces, while lighter, happier political times bring forth darker aesthetic work. While examples are necessary to illustrate this idea, it is a subject which has always fascinated me. December is the darkest month. Humans react by installing stars made up of many light bulbs on mountains, decorating trees in the park with colorful LEDs, and lighting their homes with scented candles. It has led me to reflect on the darkness or light that novelists choose to portray.

Utopian or Dystopian?

Theodor W. Adorno, who lived through the Nazi takeover of Germany, wrote that all art lives in a space somewhere between the utopian/aesthetic and the political/mimetic. It seems to me that most popular novels are about the latter, whether it be personally political as in individuals abusing individuals or publicly political about the abuse of power by one group against another. Many modern novels fall into this dystopian time-space continuum.  Such dystopian worldviews seem bald-faced to me in the sense that they are a compilation of everything horrible that can occur. I am not sure what they bring to the reader besides depression, despair, fear of the present, and dread of the future. Likewise, many award-winning books treat dark subjects. The characters suffer brutal torments. Sociopaths rule. Nothing ends well. I’d like to see a book award for novels that address more productive lives, although it might garner serious critique from The New York Times.

Depicting Life in Fiction

Perhaps because we are living through a dark political time, I am attempting to write a novel that is uplifting—not Utopian, but positive—rather than dystopian. I think readers need to be shown options for approaching their existential problems. We live in the real world. Most lives are normal, though they may be fraught with problems. Most people approach their lives from a workable position, even though a few give up. Some commit suicide; others attack innocent people. Some choose political activism; others decide to run for office. Some prefer to teach; others to write. Some wish to help; others become healers. As Mr. Rogers’ mother used to tell him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Expressing Gratitude

This past year, I have encountered many helpers. My daughter, who is an excellent soundboard and editor, has been my first reader for my blog. I am grateful for her insights and corrections. The Boulder Writers Alliance speakers have been helpful as their discussions about their own experiences are encouraging to me as well as entertaining. This month, I had some serious help with my novel writing, not directly, but indirectly. Gary McBride leads a “forensics of writing” group for the Boulder Writers Alliance. His ability to dissect a novel is extraordinary. I want to write something he would have fun analyzing. Time to get back to work!

Update on My Goal Setting

The year 2018 has been a fascinating year personally, professionally, and as a citizen. It could be called the Year of the Shift. So much has altered this year. Earth tremors, hurricanes followed by floods, droughts that caused fires, even under-ocean volcanoes have changed the landscapes where many of us live. These earth changes have been reflected in global and national politics, finances, and displacements of people. All this has occurred, while I in my little writing room have been attempting to accomplish the four goals I set in January 2018:

1. Focus on my creative writing and do the research to support it: Eleven months have passed, I am currently working on my twelfth month of writing. My creative focus has literally transformed my life. I have enjoyed doing the research necessary to write. It is as though I am finally figuring out what I can and cannot actually accomplish.
2. Complete a draft novel by the seventh of December 2018, writing 30 pages per month: Today December 7, 2018, I should have a complete draft of my novel done. In fact, I have undershot my goal. Of the 24 chapters in my outline, five are still empty.  I am also short on my page count, although I have written 285 pages. I cannot beat myself up too much about this because at the request of my children I have also written 220 pages for “my personal story” on the StoryWorth program. Thus, while I originally planned to write 365 pages this year, in fact, I have written 505 pages. This gives me hope for the coming year when I plan to concentrate on finishing my novel.
3. Document my progress through a blog to be posted the seventh day of each month, writing 12 blogs in 2018: Today, December 7, 2018, I am posting my twelfth blog. Writing a blog was a goal I had never dreamed of taking a shot at until this year, yet it has been extremely satisfying. The blog has supported my creative writing in ways I did not expect. In the past, I have never shared my in-progress work with anyone. I always just finished what I was doing, then presented it to the appropriate person. Also, one of my weaknesses is that I do not question enough. I am more likely to reflect, reflect, reflect, but not to question. Writing the blog has made me question what I am doing, what I want to say, even what is worth saying. Definitively, it has pushed me to focus on time, to write my pages regularly. Writing the blog makes me accountable to myself and my readers.
4. Develop a network of kindred spirits who are willing to share their own goals, progress, and observations with me: In November, the Boulder Writers Alliance workshop speaker was Debra Jason, who spoke about the topics covered in her book, “Millionaire Marketing on a Shoestring Budget ™. Debra Jason is a career guide on LinkedIn. I chuckled to myself when she recommended writing a blog. When she asked if anyone was writing one, I talked a bit about mine. Suddenly there I was in a face to face situation sharing my goals, my progress, and my observations with other writers —an extension of my fourth goal!