I Have a (new kind of) Dream...
Writing 21st century fantasy for a better world
In the literary publishing world, “science fiction" is more accepted than "fantasy," coming as it does with the gravitas of "science" attached. Fantasy writing is considered childlike, if not downright childish; it is escapist, unserious, and likely to be romantic, too (yuck!).
The only kind of fantasy that is borderline acceptable must be cast in the Biblical mode of good versus evil, a la JRR Tolkien or JK Rowling. It goes without saying that there must be conflict and violence at its core.
I have been thinking about fantasy a lot lately because I have always wanted to write an epic fantasy, on the scale of The Lord of the Rings or the Narnia series. Well, it goes beyond "always wanted"; it's more like I've always felt a deep calling to bring such a fantasy story into the world.
As you know if you've read my memoir, my very first story as a child opened with a wood nymph named Estrella summoning the animals of her forest to council, seeking a way to hold off human destruction of their peaceful, growing corner of the world.
I never finished the story, because it was beyond me at the time to envisage a happy ending, and I was not willing to write realist tragedy.
In fact, I forgot all about Estrella until I was in the process of writing my memoir--whereupon I discovered that she was still very much alive in my psyche, still waiting for me to stop wringing my hands and start writing her story.
Over the years, I've tried.
In an ever-expanding group of online folders, I have chapters and outlines, lists and scenes, fragments and notes for a novel that starts out in the gloomy, cold, angular world of everyday 21st century America, and then takes its protagonist through a magical leap into another world, a fantasy world where the colors are suddenly vivid, the Earth is still soft, healthy and green, and the animals are able to talk.
I manage to get there, through the glass, darkly...I arrive in that fair land, look around in awe, begin to describe it...and then I stop. I can't plot it. My powers of storytelling fail me. I don't know what happens there!
I have been stuck at this juncture for—well, if I'm honest, it's been years.
But meanwhile, the internal call to write my epic fantasy is stronger than ever, so I've been trying to understand why I am blocked.
It seems to have something to do with that censorious cultured voice of disapproval at the term "fantasy." Next thing you know, that voice scolds in a tone of disgust, you'll be wanting to write romance!
Doing my best to ignore that voice, I've been reading some contemporary fantasy series for adults, the ones that claim to sell millions of copies and get "blockbuster reviews" from reputable sources. For example, series by Katherine Arden, Deborah Harkness, Jennifer Armentrout, Rebecca Yarros, Paula Brackston, and of course Diana Gabaldon.
These series have in common a strong female protagonist through whose eyes the story unfolds; daring alternative world-building; and a willingness to include feminine-inflected romance alongside the customary violence of fantasy stories.
They're good. But none of them are the story that keeps niggling in my psyche, waiting impatiently for me to get my act together and birth it onto the page.
The story that wants to come through me seeks to break out of the conventional plots of Good vs. Evil, heroic journeys, and courtly romance. It wants to explore psycho-spiritual quantum realities more boldly, and to welcome characters that are free of the imaginative fetters of Grimm's fairytales, medieval quest tales and colonialist trauma. It wants to offer wisdom that springs from but goes beyond the limited confines of the familiar, fraught world we inhabit in this 21st century time and space.
Yes, I've given myself a tall order! Having struggled to birth this vision on my own for the past decade, I've realized that I really can't do it alone. It will take a village.
And so I turn to you, my village: do you have any words of wisdom or encouragement for me as I embark on the royal road to a new kind of (literary) adventure, an imaginative exploration of the better world that could be?
Yours in the thrill of creative discovery,
Jennifer
Read my other Substack newsletter, The Spirit of Education!
I’ve been working on a book that tries to think outside the box of conventional educational praxis: reimagining what 21st century kids will really need to know as they move into this most challenging century ahead, and thinking practically about how education might adapt to help them develop not only the knowledge, but also the resilience and social skills they’ll need to thrive.
In my latest post, I consider how Roland Barthes’ concept of “the death of the author” seems eerily prescient in the age of ChatGPT, and plant my flag of creative resistance!
I also share some pages from my doctoral dissertation, c. 1994, in which I tried to write about postcolonial personal narratives in a time that reduced “identity” to disembodied “text.”
How did that go, you may ask?
All I can say is I did my best to produce a book that would pass muster for my thesis committee, while still staying true to my mentors Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldua and Rigoberta Menchu.
The Spirit of Education is the “sandbox” for my book-in-progress, and you are more than welcome to come play with me there!
Have a look here and if you’re interested, please subscribe—it’s free!
Special Online Events for the Solstice!
I’m delighted to be co-hosting, with Audrey Kalman at our Birth Your Truest Story online community for writers, a channeling session with Christine Boschen and her Guides, focused on supporting our connections with our human families, our Gaian Earth families, and our families in Spirit.
My friend Christine is a gifted intuitive channel—you will be amazed at the wisdom that comes through her when you pose your heartfelt questions.
December 10 from 1 - 3 pm Eastern. Limited to six participants; register here.
And on the Winter Solstice itself, please join me for a special writing workshop, For the Love of Gaia: Sparking Wonder, Tending Grief, and Cultivating Resilience for a Time of Transition.
In a lively, thought-provoking 90-minute online workshop, we’ll plumb the depths of our love for Gaia, honoring our grief for all the harm that is being done in our time to humans and more-than-humans alike, and we’ll search out the seeds of resilience that lie buried in our creativity, just waiting for the sweet water of our attention to stir them to life.
All are welcome—Register here.
Creative Gifts for the Season!
Yes, I have a few ideas for your gift list, especially for writers and the people who love us!
Click on the images below for more information.
My stimulating creative elixir, the purposeful memoir card deck!
Pair it with my latest book on purposeful memoir, chock full of writing prompts, inspiration and guidance!
Add a coaching session with me!
And come write with me online!
Take one of my self-paced, pre-recorded writing classes!
Find many more self-paced courses and a welcoming creative family at the Birth Your Truest Story online community for writers, which I co-host with Audrey Kalman.
And for a very special gift, for yourself or a loved one, come write with me in Tuscany or Iceland!
My dear friends, it’s my pleasure and my passion to support you as we stretch towards living our lives creatively and to the fullest. Are you ready? Let’s go!
Jennifer! I'm cheering your vision and expressing a great deal of faith and confidence that you can accomplish this long-standing goal. I'm happy you're asking others to help with raising up this goal into it's ultimate fantastical reality! :)
I FINALLY got to reading this. I can't believe how similar our ideas are of the books we want to write. Perhaps we should be collaborating on our novels as well!