When I was writing this little gothic novel I was completely wrapped up in it. I was immersed in a world where the Americas were new, where Europeans struggled to survive in a swamp determined to swallow them, where disease was healed only by incense and prayer, and hope attained solely from spells sung into the bayou.
I love this, Elle! I hate how we put so much stock in being original and looking down upon things like fanfiction, when in reality we are all creating "fanfiction" constantly. We are inspired by so many things and they show up lovingly in our own works whether intentionally or not.
Most fiction attempts to paint a picture in your mind. But I think the best fiction allows you to paint your own unique pictures in your mind. How unimaginably wonderful it must be to see artists share those pictures. Or see them on film.
I agree that seeing works inspired by our stories brings happiness. It shows that our readers have truly connected with what we've written, though they may take something completely different from it than we intended.
I've written about this before. Not fan art or fan fiction, but how author and reader co-create stories, each contributing their own imaginings to every aspect of the creation. Each story has as many iterations as it has readers. And that's the wonder of fiction for me.
I must admit reading the first installments of obscurity I had a nightmare. I know it is only fiction and you can't be sensitive to words - it is only play making . But try telling that to your subsconscious !
Nevertheless, I will brave chapter 3, I do not read this genre but I do admire your creativity and research as you have created something out of nothing to bring your art into this world. So you need to be congratulalted.
Slavery , beatings, ghastly violence and oppressive atmosphere is too much psychologically cal to take - I know the genre expects this . I do not deny your talent though.
However you have seeded in me a desire to compose musically - for classical guitar - a Gothic Suite of Mood pieces. Something that has nor been done before. I usually think of a story to tell then express this with a palette of tones; melody;chords; texture etc.
So all is not lost Elle, ideas are every like low hanging fruit, all you need to do is privilige them with focus for selection.
I dread but curiously await chapter 3
You must keep working it is your creative agency and practice to put work out there
Thank you so much Nicholas. This comment just made my day!
It is so much more nerve-wracking to put art out there than it is to put out ideas. Mostly because it has a much smaller audience! But I kind of love that my novel gave you a nightmare (sorry about that!), because it means my work stuck to you!!!!! And the fact that it is inspiring you to write gothic music for the guitar is BEYOND EXCITING to me. I am so incredibly honored.
Please share what you put together when it's ready!!!! I would love to hear what Obscurity sounds like....
Your welcome Elle, it is the next project of the rank - currently working on some Bach Courantes with a modern touch. I already know how this musical piece is going to sound: Madame De St Vincent is in her rocking chair looking at an old postcard or letter and goes in a reverie !
I will send to you if Iam I happy with the project which I tentativiley called: Obscurity - A Gothic Reader
Such is the power of your evocative prose - perhaps I'am trying to restore my delicate psychic balanace after that nightmare !!
Thank you so much Jayne, that means a lot to me!!!!
I'm with you on genres. It's hard to find books you like when the genres don't really fit. Even the word "gothic" isn't really used anymore. Today everything is a "horror," and that's a category I don't really relate to. In my mind, horror is scary whereas gothic is just kind of creepy, more of a dark aesthetic really. And it's hard to find those kind of books among the piles of Stephen King novels!
I love this, Elle! I hate how we put so much stock in being original and looking down upon things like fanfiction, when in reality we are all creating "fanfiction" constantly. We are inspired by so many things and they show up lovingly in our own works whether intentionally or not.
Exactly! Really, EVERYTHING is fanfiction and fan art. Why try to carve some of it out as “just mine” when really only my take on it is!
Most fiction attempts to paint a picture in your mind. But I think the best fiction allows you to paint your own unique pictures in your mind. How unimaginably wonderful it must be to see artists share those pictures. Or see them on film.
I agree!! And I’m not that kind of artist, so it’s much better to have them do it!
I agree that seeing works inspired by our stories brings happiness. It shows that our readers have truly connected with what we've written, though they may take something completely different from it than we intended.
I've written about this before. Not fan art or fan fiction, but how author and reader co-create stories, each contributing their own imaginings to every aspect of the creation. Each story has as many iterations as it has readers. And that's the wonder of fiction for me.
I so agree. Do you have the link to your article about that? I'd love to read it!
The piece is called "Empty Spaces " here's the link. https://fictionin50.substack.com/p/empty-spaces
Hi Elle,
I must admit reading the first installments of obscurity I had a nightmare. I know it is only fiction and you can't be sensitive to words - it is only play making . But try telling that to your subsconscious !
Nevertheless, I will brave chapter 3, I do not read this genre but I do admire your creativity and research as you have created something out of nothing to bring your art into this world. So you need to be congratulalted.
Slavery , beatings, ghastly violence and oppressive atmosphere is too much psychologically cal to take - I know the genre expects this . I do not deny your talent though.
However you have seeded in me a desire to compose musically - for classical guitar - a Gothic Suite of Mood pieces. Something that has nor been done before. I usually think of a story to tell then express this with a palette of tones; melody;chords; texture etc.
So all is not lost Elle, ideas are every like low hanging fruit, all you need to do is privilige them with focus for selection.
I dread but curiously await chapter 3
You must keep working it is your creative agency and practice to put work out there
Nicholas
Thank you so much Nicholas. This comment just made my day!
It is so much more nerve-wracking to put art out there than it is to put out ideas. Mostly because it has a much smaller audience! But I kind of love that my novel gave you a nightmare (sorry about that!), because it means my work stuck to you!!!!! And the fact that it is inspiring you to write gothic music for the guitar is BEYOND EXCITING to me. I am so incredibly honored.
Please share what you put together when it's ready!!!! I would love to hear what Obscurity sounds like....
Your welcome Elle, it is the next project of the rank - currently working on some Bach Courantes with a modern touch. I already know how this musical piece is going to sound: Madame De St Vincent is in her rocking chair looking at an old postcard or letter and goes in a reverie !
I will send to you if Iam I happy with the project which I tentativiley called: Obscurity - A Gothic Reader
Such is the power of your evocative prose - perhaps I'am trying to restore my delicate psychic balanace after that nightmare !!
cheers
Nicholas
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! Big fan of the rocking chair reverie and can't wait to hear it!!!!!
You are an inspiration. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much Erskine! That really means a lot!
Thank you so much Jayne, that means a lot to me!!!!
I'm with you on genres. It's hard to find books you like when the genres don't really fit. Even the word "gothic" isn't really used anymore. Today everything is a "horror," and that's a category I don't really relate to. In my mind, horror is scary whereas gothic is just kind of creepy, more of a dark aesthetic really. And it's hard to find those kind of books among the piles of Stephen King novels!
So true. I love finding books on Etsy for that same reason!