“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” –
Albert Einstein
Part of being a creative writer is taking your personal experiences and
turning them inside out to help develop authentic alternate realities. I do
this a lot when I’m developing characters because I want to create fully
rounded individuals who bring with them completely different backgrounds,
locations, ages, genders, etc. I think the magical gift part of what I do must
be close to what actors do, only I use words for my world building where they use
screens.
If I do it right, I can transport readers on a journey as we explore
foggy Nantucket Island, NOLA’s French Quarter exuberance, or Death Valley’s crushing reality.
Using my imagination to explore this freedom used to scare me a little
because sometimes in the white-hot middle of drafting a new story my imaginary
experience becomes so vivid that my imaginary world starts to feel more real
than my actual reality. I can come out of it to stretch my legs or get
something to eat, and when I come back to it it’s all waiting for me in living
color, right there.
Another aspect of this weird and wonderful talent is when I feel the unexpected prickle of inspiration. I’ve learned not to ignore it because that preliminary
and irritating itch has led me to some of my best story ideas.
The first time it happened I was walking on a Sanibel Island beach when
I came across a big dead drum fish. For absolutely no reason I can fathom, I
glanced up at a nearby house and the suggestion of an assisted living home
invasion popped fully formed into my mind, complete with retired Naval
personnel characters. Since I knew nothing about retired Naval personnel, that
took some research. It became the genesis for my story, “Strangler Fig.”
Or, as my family asks, “Where does this sh*t come from?” I have no idea. I
just graciously take it.
As these inspirational prickles have become more common, I’ve learned to
accept them for the amazing gift they are. What I don’t have a handle on yet
are the equally weird and ongoing real-life coincidences that continue to pop
up.
One of these just happened to me. I’m still puzzled by it. Here’s the gist: Three years ago, I worked for an international financial services company as part of a 9-member team. I was new to Florida, and I knew no one. Nada. No back stories, no geography, no ancient family secrets, no local lore or myths. I left that project after a year to continue my adventures, not keeping in touch with anyone from the firm. Now, as part of my new life, I hiked a local county park to get my steps in. I came across a boarded-up Florida farm. I instantly became aware of some fiercely focused energy surrounding the old barn that felt so electric I snapped some pictures, my spidey-sense tingling big time. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew there was a story hidden there. Can you feel it, too?
I posted this barn picture on Facebook as a potential inspirational prompt for my writer friends. Within minutes, I got a message from a woman on my former financial services team. It was her grandfather's barn.
What are the odds that in all of Florida and with me hiking a totally random Pinellas County Park that our paths would cross again?
In the movie, "The Matrix," Keanu Reeves learns that he's living in a computer-generated simulation. Coincidences like this one make me question reality, so I went looking for other "glitches in the matrix" stories. According to the Thought Catalog blog, glitches in the matrix stories are "firsthand accounts of small but puzzling occurrences that have no logical explanation." Here's a link to 100 of them: https://thoughtcatalog.com/juliet-lanka/2017/11/25-people-give-their-glitch-in-the-matrix-story-that-made-them-believe-in-the-supernatural/
They’re fun to ponder, and they may provide you with some
fresh story inspiration.
Have you ever experienced a weird writerly inspiration coincidence? What’s your glitch in the matrix story?
What's the old saying? "Once is happenstance; twice is coincidence; three times is enemy action."
ReplyDeleteUnexplained coincidences surround us.
And there's nothing I love so much when reading as to be so immersed in the story and its setting that, when I look up from the book, I am surprised to be in my living room rather than the forest outside Camelot or on the windy shores of Scotland.
You can't go wrong quoting James Bond/Ian Fleming. You reminded me of another strange coincidence while I was reading Tolkein's opus Return of the King. My roommate came in from work and turned on the stereo. Just as I finished the book, and I was reading Sam's words, "I'm back," Aerosmith's Back in the Saddle began to blare from the speakers. It was such a weird syncronicity I've never forgotten it and that was thirty plus years ago.
ReplyDeleteFabulous, Martha. I love glitch in the matrix stories. Mine? We hired a new lawyer at my firm and the connection between us was immediate. We shared physical characteristics, gestures, even styles of dress. I was certain I’d never meet her, nor she me. We delved into our family history and discovered my paternal and her maternal family came from the same small Bavarian town. Further investigation led to the discovery that we were indeed distant cousins.
ReplyDeleteI think there’s something in the blood will tell vein. (Pun intended). I’ve felt that immediate connection, too. You know, with 24 and me nowadays, there’s a way to find out if there is a relationship. Hum. I need to think on that.
ReplyDeleteCoincidence stories and synchronicities are cool and they range from fun to creepy. They've happened often enough throughout my life, though, that they seem normal rather than something glitchy going on.
ReplyDeleteI’m thinking of working them into my new story to add a touch of paranormal. In any case, it will make my protagonist and hopefully my readers wonder what is going on.
ReplyDeleteI think the coincidence aspects are real vs. paranormal. Of course, perhaps we've lived the day or event or ??? before?
ReplyDeleteI'll incorporate a sense of deja vu into the story because my protagonist is usually so strictly rational it will mess with her perception of what her reality is.
ReplyDeleteI semi-regularly get very strong deja vu and I always think of The Matrix (which means I'm doubly freaked-out by it). Love this post!
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