One Christmas, my parents gave me an old hardback copy of Peter Pan. There was no name written on the inside cover so I don't know whether it had belonged to either of them. I remember looking for the date of publication and finding a year that seemed very long ago and old to me. The story of the boy who wouldn't grow up was fantastical and enchanting. I preferred Tinkerbell to Wendy who seemed too motherly and proper to me. I devoured the book in a few nights' reading and then placed it on my treasured bookcase with my other darling books.
Peter Pan is a story that has lived on and been revisited so many times that I doubt there are many people who haven't heard of it . It has been drawn by Disney, peopled by Robin Williams and Maggie Smith, and has forever made famous the name Captain Hook.
What appealed to me most, at that age, was the idea that a child could choose not to grow up. A life of childhood on an island with other children and adventure and magical friends appeared to be a perfect scenario. Being a grown-up seemed boring at the best of times, scary at the worst, and incredibly alien. How much better it would be to be able to fly.
I totally wish I can fly, but I do while shamanic journeying. I can keep the magic I always wanted. What's the difference if it's in your head or physical. Still real. This is why books/ stories are so powerful! Love, Jodi
Real life doesn't just have to provide inspiration for our characters. It can also feed into the locations we use in our writing. This is the school I attended between the ages of seven and eight years old. This photograph, and more of the interior, was kindly taken by an old school friend. I always loved this building and now it has provided the inspiration for Darkacre School in my novel. Photograph taken by Dan Howard of 500px.com York Minster (from my home town) was the inspiration for the cathedral where Rex Haven's funeral takes place in my novel. Taken from www.rightmove.co.uk The terraces of the South Bank area of York, where I lived for a time, are the streets of the old town in my novel. The details don't have to remain the same - we writers are tailors of imagination after all - but basing our story locations in reality can add a grounding element to our writing that convinces our readers. What real locations have you used in your wr...
There's nothing better than taking a little writerly touch along on an evening out - even if no one notices it apart from me. Why not buy your writerly friend a piece of writing related jewellery or cufflinks. The Literary Gift Company The Literary Gift Company DoonyAndMoony - Etsy JezebelCharms - Etsy charmphilosophy - Etsy Custom Made
I've recently finished a new murder mystery play called Thoroughly Murdered Millie . Set in the 1920s, rich young widow Millie Harper-Smythe shocks her family (and the staff) with her plans for the future. Her stepchildren will lose their home, William the butler has no choice but to emigrate and who knows what she has in mind for the gardener? Can anyone stop her? You can find this play over on the Murdering The Text website. Have a look .
I always liked Peter Pan. Every child wishes he/she could fly. Okay, I still wish that. :)
ReplyDeleteMe too. So much easier to get the kids to school that way.
ReplyDeleteI totally wish I can fly, but I do while shamanic journeying. I can keep the magic I always wanted. What's the difference if it's in your head or physical. Still real. This is why books/ stories are so powerful!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Jodi