One day I was discussing creativity and imagination with a few friends. It could have been one friend since drinking was involved. It was a very philosophical conversation that resulted in an interesting idea about fiction authors. We’ll see how much sense this makes by the end.
First, we discussed the possibility of other worlds and dimensions where the things we believe are fiction really exist. This boils down to the fact that you can’t prove such things don’t exist because it’s impossible to go there. At least in this life, but that’s part of an adjacent idea that we got into.
The next part of the idea involved the possibility that an author writes the stories of other worlds. We used the term ‘dimensional receivers’ for authors during this conversation because that was how it sounded to us. For example, Windemere really exists and my mind is on the same frequency, so I get visions of the events. Of course, translated through a unique mental filter in my brain to make sure I understand. The strength of the connection can also determine how quickly an author ‘creates’ new books and how many series can be in one world. It’s a rather simple idea that has no basis in reality, but it’s fun to think about if you’ve ever wondered how a person came up with something.
At one point, we revisited this idea when slightly more sober and moody. We got into a discussion about the afterlife from a non-religious point of view. In other words . . . I’m not really sure how to explain it. Eventually, I returned to the dimensional receiver idea and made a bold suggestion. The fantasy world I’m writing and forging in my mind is where I’ll go at the end. No whatever Jews have, which I wouldn’t be getting into anyway because I’m about as religious as a pet rock. My entire time here, I’m to enjoy my life and let this joy forge where my spirit sits for eternity. Maybe the people who I’ve met that don’t have a world like this get to come along or one gets to choose the other dimension they go off to. Now I’m just rambling, but this is a very strange idea that comes up between me and friends sometimes. Thought I’d throw this out there and see the chaos that ensues.
Legends of Windemere 
I love this idea, Charles – particularly that we’re crafting our own afterlife. *That* sounds fascinating.
LikeLike
Helps me continue creating and striving. Though, I haven’t figured out what I would be in Windemere. Maybe just a wandering immortal that gets to explore his own creation.
LikeLike
I think, that as translator, you could be anything you wanted to be, but considering all the adventures, a wandering Immortal wouldn’t be half bad!
LikeLike
That’s the thing. Once inside the world, I wouldn’t be translating. Unless my mind jacks into another dimension and the cycle starts all over again. Like artists are dimensional hoppers that continually create new worlds to explore.
LikeLike
Ah, I hadn’t thought of it from that angle. But I like the idea that the cycle would start anew – as though the hearts and souls of artists is what keeps the universe continually expanding.
LikeLike
I like that idea. Tuan Ho wrote a very short story that touched on that concept. Someone explored the entire universe and was about to retire when a new piece appeared because somebody dreamed it up.
LikeLike
Ooh, I love it – this is the kind of thinking/speculating that gives me shivers.
LikeLike
It’s fun to do.
LikeLike
I’ve got no idea what’d happen if I wound up in my Hell Bent universe for the afterlife. Though I somehow get the feeling that I’d be mistaken for someone that screwed over one of my characters. And he wouldn’t be pleased about it. But really, that is something fascinating to think about.
LikeLike
Good question/idea. Would anyone from that other world recognize the author?
LikeLike
Great stuff! You reminded me of a short story, can’t remember who wrote it though.. it was about an author though who wrote a villain where he poured all of his heart and soul into it in the writing and it brings the villain to life and he kills the author, lol. I skipped some stuff but that is the gist.
LikeLike
The creation coming to life is classic. Virtuosity and Cool World come to mind.
LikeLike
I certainly can’t call your idea crazy as none of us knows what lies beyond this material world. Great piece.
LikeLike
Thanks. Makes one think.
LikeLike
We can never visit (consiously ) that place – within us – where that first rough draft is created. We’ve already opened the gift…next is figuring out what to do with it.
Ellespeth
LikeLike
I don’t think you rambled.
LikeLike
Thanks. It’s an odd idea to explain.
LikeLike
Editing usually.
LikeLike
Yes. That can be creative too, at certain moments, but I don’t think that sort of creativity comes from the same place.
Ellespeth
LikeLike
Not sure. It’s a level of investigation where you explore and clarify the world. At least in terms of continuity.
LikeLike
Oh dear. I had to totally change the first line of my today’s prompt when I realized it was almost your first line 😛 They both work!
Ellespeth
LikeLike
Wonder if anyone would notice.
LikeLike
Let me risk formulating this statement: Whatever comes to human minds is real and exists somewhere in our Universe. I remember reading as a young boy many years ago a fantastic story/tale about a strange island that had extreme magnetic properties and all ships passing near were losing all nails as other metallic things. A few years later (60s) the term of “black hole” reached minds of the general public. So, do not limit your creativity in writing abstract plots/situations as they reflect something real and existing in other places/dimensions. Also in 60’s physicists studying structures of atoms discovered ‘life’ at such micro-levels. At the beginning of 20 century there were known only proton, neutron and electrons. In 60’s the physicists knew a few thousand of atomic particles. They used not only strict mathematical equations, but also started to apply certain moral/ethical criteria for solving sophistical equations what lead to discovery of new sub-elements. In this way pieces of religion/God’ notions were introduced into dominantly atheist society of physicists.
But coming to you and your topic/dilemma, my suggestion is: Whatever fantastic plot and scenario you want to create for your books keep in mind that it should carry some moral/ethical issues. At the same time it will be good if your characters beside many fantastic/extraordinary abilities can show/express well defined personalities. With very flexible space and many possibilities that are provided for a fantasy author you can express more clearly/attractively cases of our common problems concerning loyalty/fairness/honesty/sexuality etc. Such written books have bigger chances for resonating with the readers and later being recommended by them for others.
LikeLike
I do strive for realistic characters and the moral issues turn up in adventure stories a lot more than people realize. As for the expression of common problems, I’m not going out of my way on some of them. Loyalty, honest, and the relationships ones show up a lot, but I’m letting them come about naturally. They fit in better and aren’t so jarring. I never liked when a plot like that felt forced.
LikeLike
I love the whole concept of this idea! Wouldn’t that be awesome if it’s true? Or what if all of our created worlds merge into one world in the afterlife? Your idea certainly beats the alternatives in my opinion!
LikeLike
I wondered about the merging into one world. Then I thought of all the wars between the fantasy worlds. Some of those worlds are pretty violent.
LikeLike
Good point, that wouldn’t work out so well at all!
LikeLike
This idea (dare I say…possibility?!) certainly gives me extra motivation to do well by my worlds and characters. I toyed around with an idea for a story wherein a young author is pulled into her novel to be held responsible for the havoc her writing has caused for the inhabitants of the story world. Certain philosophies say that what we give credence becomes real, so we could either be creating a world and manipulating it, or we could be just be the newscasters telling our own world what’s up in the others. And I could totally deal with ending up in a book-afterlife.
Also, I think I may need friends like yours to drink with if these are the conversations you get into a few beers in. Sounds like a much better time than the parties I spent my college years desperately avoiding.
LikeLike
We get odd and philosophical when we drink too much, but it’s been years. Most of us have aged out of the sport of drunken antics.
I like the idea of an author being pulled into a world to stand trial. Makes for so many story opportunities too.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Icanbeatit.
LikeLike
You mentioned the idea of being a ‘receiver’ on my blog a while back. I still think it’s a viable explanation. I don’t know that I’d want to end up in some of the worlds that come from my imagination though. Scary. I’ll have to start imagining the perfect utopia if that’s the case. 😛
LikeLike
It depends on what I become in that world. If I go to Windemere, do I stay a mortal or join the gods? I know more about the world than others, so it wouldn’t be a simple transfer.
LikeLike
Dude, you know what this reminds me of? A book I once read called “The Self Aware Universe”. It posited that “consciousness” is the foundation of all being, and that the brain is a “filter” for the “one consciousness”. There was an actual hypothetical premise to this, based on some strange attributes of quantum physics…which brings me to the next thing this reminds me of: string theory and “extra-dimensions”, and the several theories concerning this. There are actual physics theories that posit the existence of worlds just how you described it. Parallel universes where the things we see as “fictions” are “real”. That is, any thought that is possible for us to have in this universe/dimension has a parallel equivalent in a universe/dimension that we cannot know because of the limitation of our being in this universe. In short, if you can think it, it can exist, because all possibilities can be expressed if you give the universe enough time to express them, and if we’re part of a “meta/multiverse”, what you say here is probable in the most extreme of timescales.
This sounds like a nice discussion to have gotten into. You get me to thinking.
LikeLike
I wonder if there are dimensions out there where we’re the fictional tales. One where our lives are seen as exciting or entertainment.
LikeLike
Interesting thought. Scary thought, too.
LikeLike
Somewhere out there is the Sahm King book series. Possibly a bestseller. 🙂
LikeLike
This is the kind of discussion that gets my juices flowing because it helped me write The Oldest Man In The Universe.
^^^ What Sahm King wrote above is pretty much what I was going to say lol
LikeLike
I was thinking of this idea when I read your story.
LikeLike