Half Control Freak, Half Psychotherapist

08 Jul 2011 5 Comments

by Stephanie Ciofalo in Why I do what I do

Who is? Why, fiction writers, of course! Fantasy and sci-fi writers, especially. Or maybe it’s just me. I have been told I’m something of a control freak.

Here’s how I see it: there is no order in the world. Most people don’t seem to mind this. I do. And I can’t do anything about it, not in the real world. So I make my own.

In my world, I know what people do, what they think, what they’ve done, and what they’re going to do. I know their names, their cultures, their religions, their diets. I put those mountains in the world, I know where the wind blows, when it’s going to rain. I know everything. And you know what? I like that. I really, really like that.

I can sit down and write and for a while, the world makes sense to me. Because it’s mine. It’s my world. Even when I’m not sure what’s coming, which, as other writers can attest, happens often when one sits down and just writes. Some call that a muse, some say it’s their characters speaking to them, but I think we all know that, deep down, it’s the subconscious, floating up to give rise to thoughts and feelings that otherwise wouldn’t surface. It’s therapy. It’s good for us…well, it’s been good for me, anyway. And as a bonus, it lets me be the best control freak I know I can be.

I actually have a copy of this one hanging in my office.

(Plus, some writers totally use like, elves and gnomes and stuff to push their religious and/or political agendas. Don’t pretend you haven’t seen it. Even I’ve done a little, perhaps subconsciously, but still.)

So that’s my brain droppings for today. Don’t worry, I’ll still do another “50 Words” thing this weekend.

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