Daily Cascade

Fantasy and Reality

Prompt: "There is a part of me that depends on fantasy because if you can't be somewhat of a fantasy person then you can't write." Stevie Nicks
Let this quote inspire your entry today.

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I think, in general, songwriters are more down to earth, with songs like "little lies," "edge of seventeen," by Stevie Nicks, etc. Then, of course, there are songs that sing of the inane, such as the "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley, and by Snow Patrol, "Get Balsamic Vinegar... Quick You Fool!" etc.

As to the role of fantasy in writing, well, who can deny it! This world alone can be a fantasy itself, as some philosophers claim. If I see fantasy as the ability to dream beyond reality, surely it would be the fuel for any writer's creativity. This is because imagination plays an important role in the creative process.

The creative process can include looking far beyond the boundaries of our ordinary world, exploring new ideas, possibilities, and emotional depths that may be foreign to us or even non-existent in our environment. In which case, fantasy isn't limited to magical or supernatural anything, but it has a lot to do with letting our imagination run into different perspectives, scenarios, and outcomes.

As much as I agree with this quote, I also tend to disagree in its implication that if a writer is too anchored in reality, his work may lack depth. That is not true, the way I see it. There are purely factual writings in existence that far surpass the allure of fantasy, especially when handled with talent and good research.

In essence, I believe a good writing is good writing whether it employs fantasy or reality. As long as the writer has a good insight into his subject.