Why Write?

As I was sitting at the computer earlier tonight after hearing some depressing news about something totally unrelated to what I was doing, when I had a sudden flash of insight that hit me like a brick. Okay, so it hit me more like a marshmallow, but it opened my eyes for about fifteen minutes or so.

I realized (probably not for the first time, but then, I have a short memory) that I wished I was in the middle of a new book or story - anything - so I could forget about my personal problems for awhile. Which translates to me using my stories as an escape.

Yes, an escape. Into another world, one of my making, totally under my control, where I can immerse myself totally inside a warm fantasy world cocoon.

There is something to be said for living in two worlds, which is what happens when I am seeing through the eyes of my characters. I can step outside myself and feel what my characters feel, see the world as they do, and escape from myself for awhile.

One odd thing I found out about writing my trilogy was that I began to forget which world was real. I may have mentioned this before, but it's true. I actually at one point encountered the odd feeling that I could pick up the phone and dial up my characters and have a conversation.

Of course, this revelation startled me back into reality, but for a few moments (okay, I admit, the feeling stuck around for a few days) it was almost as though I was living inside the book.

Now, I once saw a movie about an author who becomes part of the book he/she was writing, so I know this is not necessarily an unusual thing for an author to go through, but damn, how fucking disappointed was I when I had to shake myself out of the fantasy and back to reality. It was like seeing my best friends waving goodbye to me as they drove away.

As I sat at the computer earlier tonight, I found myself longing to connect up with those friends again. Another odd sensation. Too weird.

I guess the bottom line is that it's time for me to begin another book.