Thursday 13 May 2010

In a world of pure imagination.

Come with me, and you'll be in a world of pure imagination...

Sorry, I had a Willy Wonka moment there.

As you may have gathered I have a kind of vivid imagination. And, as a child, Roald Dahl was one of my favourite authors. So naturally, I loved the Gene Wilder version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The line from that song makes me wonder about imagination. All of us have it. As children we use it everyday in the games we play, the stories we tell etc. So when we are adults where does it go?

Do we loose the ability of imagination? Do we forget because we don't want to use it and life is taken over by the practicality of work?

As writers we seem to hold on to our imagination. It grows with us.

We store those ideas and tap into them. We create worlds, characters and stories. We live with our MC in this world, share their pain, triumphs and disasters.

Maybe we are eternal dreamers. The word charmers of old changing folktales into bedtime stories.

Perhaps imagination is a gift bestowed on all as babies, but only utilized by those who still see the world around them. They want to shape it and set it free for others to enjoy.

Imagination has a spark. A catalyst that helps us turn our idea into a plot, and that plot into a novel. We want to do it.

Perhaps that is what separates writers imaginations from others. We all have it, we never really loose it, but only some want to use it.

Like Mr. Wonka says.

If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it. Anything you want to...do it. Want to change the word? There's nothing...to it.

There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination. Living there you'll be free. If you truly wish to be.

24 comments:

Unknown said...

You are so right! Nothing like being lost in the act of creating a novel and bringing the characters into breathing, excited existence...

Vicki Rocho said...

My imagination gets me into trouble because it sucks me down like a whirlpool (is that what you call those things? What Ursula did to the ocean at the end of Little Mermaid?).

If I'm living in my 'inner world' and someone asks me a question - even something simple I know the answer to - I look up at them like they're speaking another language. Takes me a while to transition from imagination to reality...

Martina Boone said...

At some point, our lives typically start to move away from the need and the time to be imaginative. It's really too bad that creativity isn't valued more in our society. Working with children everyday, I purposely set out to allow them to be imaginative and interpretive in the products they create. When they're given freedom outside of the box, it amazes me what they come up with. As adults, we need to give ourselves permission to do this more often. If you stay in touch with your creative side through reading, writing, and just dreaming, I believe you can maintain that connection with pure imagination as an adult.

Marissa

Renae said...

What a great post and how true! Adults do lose thier imagination. I realize that more and more everyday when people ask how on earth I come up with ideas.

I like Miss V, get caught up sometimes when people are speaking to me as well. So nice to know I'm not alone.

Unknown said...

This was fantastic and you couldn't be more right!!! As writers we hone in on that wonderful world of imagination but other adults seem to lose it the older they get. My husband even admitted at the beginning of this writing process that he didn't have near the imagination I had... luckily he still has plenty and doesn't dislike me for my random outburst of inspiration!! I don't think I could marry someone who had no imagination... thank goodness I didn't have too!

Great post!

Hannah said...

So true and I love the Gene Wilder version too.

You see what you want to see. If you focus onchaos and destruction, that's all you're going to see.

Jessica Bell said...

Lovely post. It's so true. I'm sure so many people just let their childlike imagination slip away becasue they think they're too old for it. So not true. I wrote a post once about this too, and I said, "You know you are mature when you can act like a kid." Right?

Kathi Oram Peterson said...

So true! A world without imagination would be awfully dull. Great post!

Creepy Query Girl said...

I completely agree. Sometimes I feel like imagination is my one and only superpower. lol.

Elana Johnson said...

I knew I'd learned everything I needed to know when I saw Willy Wonka!

This is so true. If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it.

I love that.

Matthew MacNish said...

So true.

Love it! Thanks Lindsay.

Avo said...

I guess I'll repeat what's already been said. That was lovely post!

Here are some of the thoughts that your post sparked in me...

I don't think all people are born with imagination though. I suspect its much like many other human characteristics, variable from one individual to the next.

And there are pockets of adults who use and develop their imaginations... Many adults channel their imagination and creativity into what they do: how am I going to quell a classroom of rambunctious teenagers? How am I going to design the dress that will be the star of next year's fashion show? How am I going to get the customer to sign that big contract? Or how am I going to cook my garden tomatoes for the fifteenth time this week and still wow my diners?

Yes that's moving a bit away from imaginary lands and places, from the storyteller's fancy... But even there, writing a novel isn't the only way of expressing that kind of creativity. I know some mothers who, while anonymous to the world at large, spin tales of daring and wonder to rival those of many a great author... There are people crafting worlds and living adventures in them in role-playing groups... And of course there are your readers whose imagination lets them be carried away to your words and worlds, often beyond for they will dream what happens to your characters outside the scope of your story...

I think the saddest are adults who live with an obviously stifled and unfulfilled creative impulse. I've seen so many of those, people who stopped or didn't try because they can't compare to the greats in whatever they are doing...

True, going professional is difficult thing that requires a special set personality characteristics and circumstances.

But to create for one's own pleasure and that of the people you care about, that is within everyone's reach!
Which brings us back to your Wonka-borrowed punch line...

Talli Roland said...

Living in a world of pure imagination would be amazing, if somewhat scary! I do think as we get older, our imagination shrinks a bit (sadly) as we temper fantasy with reality.

Jaydee Morgan said...

Great post! It's probably a good thing I've always wanted to write because I have a really over-active imagination. In fact, I think it gets worse as I get older (or, maybe that's dementia). Either way, I love it - even if it makes everyone else wonder ;)

Lindsay said...

So the weirdness og blogger struck again and my responses to your comments were deleted. So I'm going again.:)

Carole. I agree. I have no concept of time etc., when I write.

MissV. I get lost in my imagination too. Gets me into trouble.:)

Marissa. Great points. I agree, we need to give ourselves permission to be creative.

Renae.That is the question I think people ask me the most. I always say everyone has ideas, you just have to use them. :)

Jen. So glad you're husband doesn't dislike your random inspiration outbursts. I get weird looks but ha, I'm being creative.:)

Palindrome. "If you focus on choas and destruction that's all you'll see." Great point. :)

Alena. Glad you enjoyed the post, and welcome.:)

The Alliterative Allomorph. "You know you're mature when you can act like a kid." Love it.

Kathi. I agree. I love imagination, makes things so much more interesting.

Creepy Query Girl. Hey, if imagination iss a superpower it is a great one to have.

Elena. Perhaps they should teach the Wonka philosophy in schools. :)

Matthew. Glad you liked the post.

Alesa. Wow, insightful points. I think you are right, imagination is within all our reaches. We just use it in different ways sometimes.

Talli. It's a shame our imagination shrinks as we age. But I'd like to live in the candy world in Willie Wonka's factory. That would be cool. :)

Jaydee. Heehee, I know what you mean by everyone wondering.

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love that song from Willy Wonka!!!!! *smiles wistfully*

Certainly, it is sooooooo important to hold onto our imaginations. Great post!

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Wonderful post, Lindsay! And I LOVED the Gene Wilder Willy Wonka! Imaginations are real-life magic. :-)

Shannon said...

Michael and I were talking about the magic of imagination last night. I think the "rules" and accepted norms tend to get in the way and force us to suppress wildly creative ideas.

I like where your head is at today. :)

Lindsay said...

lbdiamond. I love the song too. It's my childhood movie experience in a post. Plus, imagination. :)

Shannon O'Donnell. I agree. Imgination is amazing. :)

Shannon. Aww, thanks. I agree, "rules" do tend to get in the way and constrain us. How spooky we were both thinking about the same thing practically. :)

Unknown said...

Lindsay, I wanted to stop by and say thank you for following my blog, The Darkwood Review (short story reviews). I've really enjoyed reading yours. I'll return often and let others know.

Lola Sharp said...

Yeah, blogger and google have been glitchy the last 2 days. Grrr.

I LOVE the Geen Wilder version...I love his voice singing that song...I love that song, the lyrics.
As much as I adore me some Johnny Depp, the Gene Wilder version is so much better. It's the classic childhood nostalgic movie.

I enjoyed this post. :)
Love,
Lola

Jonathon Arntson said...

It's a fact that Roald Dahl had one of the most creative minds ever. My favorite is THE WITCHES. Incidentally, the movie is my favorite Dahl adaptation. The ending is so creepy.

Zoe C. Courtman said...

Ha, I *did* song-bomb you!! Ah, Willy Wonka. Sometimes I wish I had MORE imagination, especially when it comes to writing horror. It's difficult, sometimes, to come up with something REALLY out of the box - and I think, wow, where's your imagination, Zoe? Just make something up. Huh.

Lindsay said...

William Shawn O'Brien. Glad you enjoyed the post, thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon. :)

Lola. I know, blogger grrr. :) I agree though, as much as I like Johnny Depp, I prefer the original.

Jonathan. I love The Witches too....and The Twits...And Matilda...Oh heck, all of them. lol.

Zoe. Yup told ya. heehee.