Writers and Truth
by DoctorGamgee
Writers and Truth:
a musing/tribute to our authors
I was looking around the Scrapbook, utterly amazed by all of the
thoughts and exchanges that the boards have fostered over the years. It
is somewhat daunting to skim through the myriad of titles in each of
the respective posts. It seems that everything has been said or covered
already, and many wonder just how long it will be able to sustain
itself. And yet the sheer number of new additions never seems to fall,
and theme days add spice to them, so I don't really worry about our
running dry any time in the near future. And today I was inspired by a
writing by FanForever. The question revolved around why one must face
evil to be a hero, and those who are 'gardeners of good' go unknown.
I remember when I was younger, my older brother Jay said that writers
"seemed to notice everything more." He was perhaps correct, but it
seems not so much that the things were noticed, but rather how they fit
into the greater scheme of things that was augmented: their
relationship to other things in the area and how things worked together
and affected each other that created the stories.
This is the thing which draws me into the LOTR: Tolkien's ability to
spin the yarn so cleverly that the kindness Frodo shows in the middle
of the second book finally finds fruition in the end of the third; or
how the Seed Sam is given in the middle of book one ends up becoming
the new Party Tree, and bringing full circle the theme of Fellowship
and "looking out for one another" which is found throughout the books.
This simple truth, and how failure to do so leads to mischief
(Sherriffs!) and Sharkey. By watching how JRR tells the story and shows
in ways great and small that even the smallest person, or the least
important seeming event can affect the whole story's outcome.
Tolkien's work has been rated as the greatest piece of literature in
the 20th century. If this is so (and I believe it is) then aren't those
of us who have read it, and who claim that it has had an important
effect on our life, somehow required to show that by reading it, we
have changed some way? I know that it has changed the way I perceive
things, and the way I deal with some aspects of my life. Has this
happened to you too?
One thing that it has called me to do is become more aware of the world
around me. So oftenn I feel that heroes are defined the way they are is
because many of us fail to react to things which don't grab our
attention in a bold way, and thus, many battles are unnamed, unclaimed,
and either overlooked before they are begun, or their relevance is
never sought in the bigger picture and the lessons that they could have
taught go unlearned.
I have never been much of a writer here on the boards -- at least as
far as Inklings go. I find that my mind does not wrap around the facts
and relationships needed for that sort of thing. I have only done one
(I believe) and that was mediocre at best. But this year, I hope to
follow in the steps of Primula, Varda, Agape, Lothithil, Evermind,
Dinledhwen and others. I will search out truths in the world around me,
and see if I can create them for others via stories. I will pay
attention to history more, and see if I can figure out how the events
of the past are coloring the present and future.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for sharing your thoughts and ideas
with us here on the boards. We are all endebted to your generosity and
wisdom.
Dr.G
Response from Lothithil
Well said, Doc!
We have a unique place here, and it's folks like you who make it extra
special. I have yet to meet, online or in the Real World, a person as
perceptive, gentle-hearted, and intellengent as you are, Dr G.
I've made friends on this board that I will keep for the rest of my
life. It is as real a place in my heart as my hometown, painted with
the colours of Middle-earth. I love this community!
And I am so glad that the Scrapbook is there for us to enjoy
(especially us who have less time to 'hang about' than we used to!)
Response from Linaewen
I take as much pleasure in researching my facts for the things I write
as I do in actually writing it. Something about doing the research
opens the door to insight into character and relationship -- not sure
how that works, but I hope you discover that to be true for yourself,
as well. I bet you will!
Response from Pi
Very insightful and thoughtful, doc. But as far as your "Limerick of
the Rings" goes, my friend, you bow to no one.
I, like you, have not really done an inkling. I'm not sure how hard it
would be for me, but I'd like to try a little one. Just ask Rogorn
about that - he and I have talked about his "Hope of the North," and
I've done a couple little HOTN poems for him, and I've given him an
outline of an idea I had, but as far as actually writing it, I run
away, run away!!
Reply from Doctor Gamgee:
Thanks, Pi. Although I was thinking of "Rosie's Confession" not the
Epic Limerick -- that is more poetry than real Inkling, as I am not
creating anything new.
Linaewen, I hope that good things will come to pass, but while I am
good at following formulas (i.e. poetry and poetic forms) the vast
openness of writing prose is somewhat daunting: finding the proper
formatting and form for the story is my great challenge. But I am glad
to have you in my corner.
And Lothithil -- that is the nicest thing that anyone has said to me in
a long time. I will simply say 'Thank you' as my gut reaction to your
kind words was more along the lines of "Don't get out much, do you?"
But I share your love for this community and agree -- it is home.
So we shall see where this leads. Thank you all for your support and
encouragement.
Response from Lothithil:
And Lothithil -- "Don't get out much,
do you?"
Hee hee! My chain is only long enough to reach the waterbowl!
Response from Ladyhawk
Baggins:
What do you mean it was mediocre?! I thoroughly enjoyed your
little Rosie tale and wished you'd continued with it. But then I've not
kept up well with Through Frodo's Eyes. I dread what's coming, and I've
been... distracted by other writing. I too look forward to your new
adventure, for an adventure it surely is to be, not only for your
characters but for you as well. Reading what others have written allows
me to broaden my own views, even if I don't agree with the writer, for
I am required to examine my own thoughts more closely and consider
things I might not have considered before. One of my goals this year is
to be sure and write at least 15 minutes a day, to start. Habits take
time to form, but this is a habit I've wanted for a long time, and now
is the best opportunity to get started. And I like the way you
have challenged us to show that we have changed in some way by the
reading of a great book. It certainly has changed my life for the
better.
Response from Vison:
Although I haven't been here much lately, nor Inkled much lately, I
still treasure every single word I ever wrote in the line of fanfic.
And I treasure all the kind friends who read it, commented on it,
praised it.
And I've read some wonderful writing on this board. My word, I'm waxing
sentimental.
Response from Varda:
Dear Doc,
thanks for this inspiring post, something needed at this last gasp of
the old year when believe it or not we writers wonder has the well run
dry and will we ever see our muse again. Thanks for the namecheck and
if you opt to write fiction, best of luck.
I am working through seismic changes in my life, and my writing has
been put aside, and I miss it as it is my way of processing what is
happening in my life in other ways. If you do write, focus on character
rather than ideals, especially heroism. It should be personhood, rather
then heroism that leads us. Just getting up in the morning is heroism
for some people and most heroes dont look like it. The greatest hero
was Frodo, and he was just a hobbit. Sam was the servant of a hobbit,
but the greatest quest ever seen would have failed without his common
sense, pig-headedness and pans. Little is actually big, very big.
People on this board seem perhaps to colleagues and even family to be
modest achievers, but their posts reveal genius and perception far
beyond the ordinary.
Id like to take this chance to wish you and yours, and G Minor a very
happy New Year, and all the very best in 06, fiction or fact, it is all
one....and maybe we will meet at convention or such like.
