You ever wonder if something happens to you because it was destined? You had no choice in it happening, but you’re stuck with it. You do look back as see if there was something you did to earn your fate. Was there a decision you consciously made that caused all of this to happen? Then, you’re wondering about destiny and free will. I could go into the big philosophy discussion of which one is real, stronger, or whatever. My personal belief is that both have an equal hand in our lives. We are destined to reach a crossroads, but our decision is in our hands. That’s as far as I go with that.
Windemere is a world where the strongest god is Gabriel, the god of destiny. He forges the heroes and villains of the world as well as putting a little into every mortal’s life. He is the one being that can bend the law of influence, which dictates that a god cannot physically interfere with mortal affairs under penalty of sealing. So, many of my heroes work under the umbrella of destiny. This cliche of fantasy adventures is one of my main focuses, which many people might roll their eyes at. Many character roll their eyes at it too.
You see, I try really hard to find the balance between destiny and free will. For example, the heroes of Legends of Windemere might be destined to reach the final battle (in some form), but they aren’t destined to survive it. That requires them to put faith in themselves. I’ve read many books and seen many movies where it says the hero is ‘destined to be victorious’. First one that comes to mind is Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland. The scroll showed her killing the Jabberwocky and it sounded like this thing saw the future. Well, why would I believe she would fail if the future telling thing has already said she would win? You say victory is predestined then the hero cannot fail under the rules. Free will is where victory and failure should come from. The decisions that a character makes are more important than what the gods of their world have said.
This is very hard to do with characters. As fictional beings in our mind, they are destined for everything and their ‘free will’ is nothing more than our imagination running unchecked. Our mind gets into the scene and the character races off against our plans . . . so, maybe our character do have some form of free will. They can race around doing the unexpected while still hitting the major milestones of the story. It isn’t entirely far-fetched to believe this.
So, what do you think of destiny and free will in writing?
Legends of Windemere 
I LOVE THIS PIECE! I get excited when a post makes me stop and reflect. I believe in destiny and free will, quite a combination. I believe opportunities are all around us…that we’ve all been bestowed various gifts and succeed (if we choose to believe we’ve succeeded) in the opportunities we explore. Succeed not representing monetary or status gain, but that feeling of accomplishment inside. I have too many thoughts about the subject to enter because the possibilities are endless. Great post!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. People do tend to get stuck on the physical and social pieces of success. The emotional and mental tend to be cast aside. It’s a very deep subject that everyone has their own opinion on. That’s why I tried really hard to stick to the writing part.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You succeeded then my friend! You evoked reflection!
LikeLike
In writing, I think destiny is boring if there’s not sense of free will and character decision-making involved. Who wants to read about a puppet?
LikeLike
Nobody does. So it’s really strange when inflexible destiny is used. I admit it’s hard to run a world with destiny a key component and maintaining free will at the same time. There are moments of puppet-hood, but I think a great way an author can counter that is by having the character openly question if they have free will and have doubts.
LikeLike
When you consider destiny and a movie like The Terminator and T2 this becomes a really fun discussion!!!
LikeLike
As a literary device, I find it tedious. It can be done well, but that takes a lot of work, just as writing a good time travel novel takes work. I feel that too often ancient prophecies are used as a shorthand for “look how awesome my character is” or as a way of working around plot holes. Of course, I also am a firm believer in free will, so it may be that I have a higher threshold for willing suspension of disbelief regarding destiny.
My personal favorite take on the subject is from the webcomic Oglaf.
http://oglaf.com/sooth/
LikeLike
I agree. Fantasy is filled with ancient prophecies because most worlds have that dark past where ancient evil ruled. You’re right that it takes a lot of work to get it right.
I’ve read a lot of books that have a character step out of a small farming village to save the world. Sometimes they’re destined and everything is handed to them (lazy!). Other times the character is not destined and his evolution is handled poorly. This can result in the bungling hero that shouldn’t survive or the natural hero, both of which should be destined if they’re to succeed. These might be examples of the abuse of writing entirely with free will.
This is why I like the combination. A character can be destined to do something, but it doesn’t mean the path should be smooth or without the threat of failure. I’ve tried to hint that destinies aren’t absolute in my world. After all, if an ancient prophecy has been in the works for centuries then one could assume that others were told they were destined and failed.
LikeLike
There is a running joke in the video game “The Bard’s Tale” about that actually–a number of walk-on characters who believe they are “The Chosen One” and then get themselves killed the first time they see action.
LikeLike
I always hated ‘The Chosen One’ characters. They never seemed to be trained to be the chosen one. They’re told they are and that’s it. I have a ‘chosen one’ type in my book, but she’s been heavily trained since birth, has a past of disaster, and some major trauma happens to her over the course of the series. So, I don’t mind the chosen one thing as long as the character takes major hits and isn’t the shining, happy hero at the end. If that makes any sense.
LikeLike
I believe God sends opportunities our way, but it’s up to us to act.
LikeLike
Liked your ending it sounds like a great plot for a story…I’m a sceptic about destiny personally, just never got that imput when I was little so, I think we are our own destiny…but imagine living as a character in a story…oooooooo…that spooky…shiver!
LikeLike
I’ve never been told either way. I learned from reading books and observing the world. There are times I think stuff happens beyond our control and stuff happens because we will it. Until I’m told otherwise, I go with the both exist theory.
LikeLike
Why not…it’s a working hypothesis…and I think I’ve got a story to write!
LikeLike
Destiny is too often used as excuse. Stuff happens, yes. But how we react to it is what I like to think of as ‘free will’. Of course, this tension between destiny and free will is a writer’s powertool. 😀 And powertools can sometimes be irritating as hell.
LikeLike
It’s definitely a power tool. I still like one line that the god of destiny tells one of my destined heroes:
“I only say what you’re destined to face. Not if you’re supposed to live or die.”
LikeLike
Thinking of works that played with the concept of destiny and free will in ways that I think really added to the story…
“The Anubis Gates” by Tim Powers. It’s always hard to describe Tim Powers novels, but this one deals with time travel and the unchangeability of historical events in a very interesting way. A modern historian goes back in time and finds that the way history is written down isn’t always exactly as it happened.
“In The Nick Of Time” and “Sweet Bird Of Time” by George Alec Effinger. I’m not sure which one was written first and it doesn’t really matter, the books are kind of woven together. Basically he takes all of the time travel cliches in Science Fiction and puts them in a blender to see what comes out.
“The Man Who Folded Himself” by David Gerrold (the guy who invented tribbles.) THE time travel novel to end all time travel novels, and the main reason that I haven’t really played with the concept myself–he said everything that there is to say.
“Einstein Intersection” by Samuel Delany. Another book that’s hard to quantify, but basically the characters are archetypes who have to play out certain myths, but those myths interact in a way that’s… not the same.
C. S. Lewis’s “Space Trilogy”, particularly “Paralandra”, but also in a minor key running through “That Hideous Strength.” Strong themes of being chosen and being tested, and the results of the test always being in doubt.
Just off the top of my head.
LikeLike
Wow. That’s just off the top of your head? I bow to your superior knowledge.
LikeLike
Eh, I just read a lot. Really a lot.
LikeLike
I used to, but I go for my notebooks and laptop whenever I have free time. I’m a horrible author since I barely read these days.
LikeLike
Actually, I don’t read as much as I used to, either, which is why all my examples are from the 1970’s or earlier.
LikeLike
I just assumed things were better from that time period.
LikeLike
I see a combination of both in many compelling stories. Was Bilbo destined to find the ring and therefore pass it on to Frodo? Yet both exercised free will in what they did with it.
LikeLike
Exactly. I think people mistake chance for destiny too. It was luck that Bilbo found the ring, but it doesn’t mean destiny.
LikeLike
I think it’s a very powerful theme to write about, precisely because it is – and probably will always remain as – a mystery. The novel I hope to publish in July/August this year has some similarities in theme, though it takes its point fro how we tend to mythologise our lives and then make decisions based on that, so we kind of write our fate for ourselves, whether it is objectively a good idea or no…so just a different approach to the same issue. What do we choose because of who we are (character as destiny) compared to who are we because of what we choose or what we have no choice about…..
LikeLike
It is certainly a powerful theme. I think a lot of people cast it aside because it’s such a mystery.
LikeLike
I enjoy destiny stories – and write destiny stories – that step outside of themselves. It’s as you said – they have the will to make choices and the space between Point A and Point Z isn’t always clear, safe or predetermined. It’s probably a bit of a cop-out, but I prefer it when they say “so and so is destined to meet/fight/parlay/salsa dance with so and so.” It doesn’t meant the outcome is predetermined, and allows for more wiggle room.
I liked what Helen said about mythologizing our lives, too. I don’t have more to add to it because I’m about to have a fish fry and watch Sherlock, but it rang true.
LikeLike
The so and so is destined to part is a fun thing. Especially when you make it iffy that it will happen. Obstacles make for great stories.
LikeLike
Pingback: When what you know ain’t so. | mishaburnett
The write creates the characters, and the characters’ upbringings, value system, personal strengths and weaknesses. Given a certain backdrop and a set of choices, the character could only choose to make certain decisions because who s/he is. In a way, their free will is also their destiny. Whether the character win or lose is exactly as you said – they might be destined to reach the final battle but not destined to survive it. Whether they survive it, however, imho, is still about who they are and the circumstance they operate under and not just about their free will.
LikeLike
True. Though, I wonder if any heroes that day say more about the destiny or influence of the villain. Nobody ever talks about the destiny of a villain. It’s like they’re exempt.
LikeLike
when I write, the words flow through my fingers, my soul or subconscious self not my logical mind. I have never tried fiction but after reading your article it seems that the process would be similar
LikeLike
Fiction is definitely a big subconscious affair. The trick is to keep the characters on task because they can wander away if given half a chance.
LikeLike
that makes sense
LikeLike
I like to read fantasy, but it drives me a little nuts when there is a prophecy and the hero fulfills his destiny. I sometimes wonder about the satisfaction of fulfilling destiny (vs. striving to create your own destiny, so to speak) or the suspense in accomplishing the obvious (at least, there is suspense in how it will be accomplished, and many subplots, etc.). I rather like to read a (good) book where I don’t have any preview as to where the story is going.
LikeLike
It’s hard for me to really comment on this because I use destiny in my book and a few future series. In truth, the battle between destiny and free will plays a major role in my entire world. This is why I have both play a factor to some extent. It’s really tough to do, but I think having the heroes sacrifice and suffer a lot (at least in fantasy) helps make a destiny-based story more palpable.
LikeLike
I like your wording, a “battle between destiny and free will.” It seems like destiny wins if the prophecy is fulfilled. Isn’t free will appealing?
It’s something I’ve noticed when I read fantasy, and I’m glad you’ve brought this point up. It must be a big challenge as a writer. It can’t be easy to be a creator of sorts. 🙂 Philosophers are still debating over free will and destiny, so I guess it’s not so clear-cut.
LikeLike
It’s a little more complicated than that for my world. Destiny is designed by the gods, but they’ve realized it’s better to put space for free will into their works. So the destinies of Windemere do operate under the ‘you can make it to the final battle, but there is no guarantee of your condition or if you’ll win’. I even have one hero that’s considered an anti-destiny being because his involved changes the destiny of whoever he is hanging out with.
Also, the final battle of Windemere . . . ever have the perfect way to explain yourself, but it’s also the biggest spoiler of your entire career? 😀
LikeLike
That sounds interesting. I’m sure it was your destiny to write a book where destiny was so important and complicated. 🙂
LikeLike
Yup. Thankfully, free will lets me decide on how to do it. 😉
LikeLike
I love this topic Charles. I think we all have the capacity to achieve something great. It’s free will that either propels us toward it or precludes us from it.
LikeLike
Pingback: The Chosen One: Loved & Hated | Legends of Windemere