As many of my friends know, I love the genre of fantasy. I love dragons, centaurs, satyrs, nymphs, fairies, and all sorts of other mythical creatures. When I was a child, I would sit for hours and read about world mythologies (something I don't necessarily recommend for young children). So this week, I thought it would be interesting to talk about what about these magical beings inspires me so much.
When I was in high school, I had an idea for a book series. This series would involve the adventures of a young wizard and his younger sister, a naiad (a water spirit). I've tried to start this series a couple times, but it's never gotten far. Despite that, I still think about this series almost daily. The idea sticks in my head, and I'm constantly thinking of how I could possibly make this story a reality.
Why does this one story idea stick with me, though? I've written books before. I have a book that I've been on-and-off working on for the better part of four years. Yet this story about a wizard and his naiad sister always sticks with me. The reason it sticks with me, I believe, is the possibility of the medium. Fantasy is a wide-open medium where anything can happen. Heroes can rise and fall. Dictators can come to ultimate power. Life can be changed in an instant, or it could stay the same for a long time. You don't know, and I love the freedom.
I love imagining scenarios. I love the concept of putting characters in a situation and seeing what happens in your own story. Fantasy gives so many opportunities for exploration, and I love the possibilities. This summer, I purchased two books on mythological creatures just to get ideas for situations that I could write about. Maybe the young wizard will have to save his beloved sister from an evil kraken. Or, perhaps the young naiad will have to rescue her brother from a siren's sweet song. The possibilities are endless, and that excites me.
I'm not alone in this love of fantasy, obviously. Millions of people love this genre like I do, and I think that they also feel this sense of wonder at the possibilities. I wonder if maybe even you are a lover of fantasy as well. If you are, I would love to know what are some of your favorite stories, creatures, and characters that you've encountered. Exploration is never as fun alone, and with fantasy, there is a lot to explore. So, share the journey with me, and maybe we can all find some new areas in the vast expanse of the fantasy genre.
I want to start a habit of posting a song that I was listening to while writing my article for the week, so here is my first iteration of that plan. This song is "Silver" by the Gray Havens. Check them out.
