When writing my trilogy, I wanted to surpass most of the battle scenes ever written or produced on screen. I wanted to leave a reader emotionally drained. Why? Because when we are drained of the interference of our emotions, then and only then can we see clearly.
Why is it we must lose something before we understand it’s profound importance to our lives, instead of grasping every moment with all we have and fight to prevent that loss? We allow decades to pass before we value our environment and then try to clean it up afterwards. Why do we fail to intervene in destructive behavior, then mourn from the consequences we clearly saw coming? We rationalize our own behavior, until we harm someone else. We choose not to apply foresight, but rather grasp to the crutch of hindsight.
When we are able to feel the pain in others, we truly become human. Writing about characters requires the writer to dwell into the very reason most of us feel pain and sorrow. It boils down to the simple concept of “loss.” Almost every great story revolves around this concept. Every hero strives to save others around him from “loss.” The greatest romances ever written all deal with “loss.” The greatest tragedies deal with “loss.”
I challenge every reader to once in their lifetime read and grasp the meaning of John Milton’s “Paradise Lost.” The influence of this epic poem to my thinking cannot be measured. It was from that reading that I learned the value of “loss” in every great story I have ever read. It is the central theme to my trilogy and the fifteen tales to follow. If you read my trilogy, post a review, a blog comment and let me know if I was able to connect the meaning of, and fear of loss to you. Did you cry or were you emotionally moved? If they answer was yes, then I accomplished my goal as a writer – to connect with you. Of the 35+ books I have in premise phase, loss is the overriding concept.
Reflect on all that you have read and recall the concept of loss. With any new book you read, keep the concept of loss on your mind as you wonder where the author is leading you. Some will keep you in the moment of the loss and allow you to filter it, while others will rise you gloriously above to regain what was lost.
Think about it.
