Writing a Fiction Story Using Imagination - Essay Example

?Essay, Creative writing PART (a Fiction Story Transformation YES, the time element is just an illusion. Still, I know that this is not the right time to tell a tale because my wife is raising her voice. Then, how can I keep inactive and brood over my past? No way. Holy ****! I forgot everything. The dogs are begging for their regular treat, the pigs are impatient, and today is the day to harvest our veggies. See, I am a responsible, duty-minded, husband and father, and an organic-farmer. But something really created trouble within my energetic morning. Suddenly, John’s daughter entered and handed over a certificate to him. He asked, “From where did you get this certificate?” “I got it from the old shelf”, she answered. John returned the certificate and answered to his daughter, “This certifies that your father was a scapegoat of his father’s decision, nothing special. But ask your mother to keep it safe.” Then he asked his wife in a low but sweet voice, “Bella, can I have your help to walk the dogs?” Isabella answered, “Yes, if I have 10 or 12 hands. Can’t you see that I am busy with the kid?” Isabella entered the yard with their child and looked at John. She saw that John is still sitting on his chair. But he was trying to go through his past, as an obedient student. Noticing the certificate, she kept silent for a while and said in a sarcastic voice, “Sorry John, I was not aware of the fact that you are still clinging to your past.” She realized that the certificate led John to ponder over his past, as an obedient student and existentialist. John changed his dress and walked to their farm with his wife and children. *** I still remember my kid’s childhood because he was never a nuisance to me. Can you imagine a child who is amiable and amicable? It is him. But his elder brother was quarrelsome and he tried his level best to please his pa. During his adolescent age, my child developed enthusiasm towards nature. He used to ask several questions about the secret behind the living world. He was aware of the fact that his father will not lend his ear to his words. During his teenage, my child faced a number of problems within our personal domain. I still remember that incident. One day, my old man asked my son to reveal his ambition. He plainly answered that his aim is to become an organic farmer. This conversation transformed our family into a hell. My old man scolded my child and made clear that he will not allow him to be a farmer. By the by, my old man is a businessman, who used to import and sell plastic toys from China. He never tried to understand that human beings are different in their attitude towards life. Some people consider that business is the core of success. Some others consider that rustic life is most suitable for human beings because the same never leave any carbon footprint. Personally, I belong to a rural family and I am aware of the importance of farming within human life. Still, it is difficult to prove that farming is better than business. The happiness that can be seen in a farmer’s face on seeing that his plants are growing cannot be compared to a businessman’s happiness. So, my old man decided to send my child to a boarding school. Still, someone was smiling, my other child. My child spent his teenage at a boarding school. After completing his school education, my child returned. He did not try to face his father, but revealed his future plan to me. He told me that he does not like to be a businessman because he does not expect any profit in his life. I told him that his elder brother did complete MBA and is helping his father. Then, he told me that his burden is lifted because two aggressive lions cannot live in a forest. But I told him that a lion and a number of foxes can live in a forest. He answered that he does not like to be a fox in his life, but the lion in his own territory. But the problem was not over because my old man once more intruded into my child’s life and sent him to a famous business school to continue his higher education. He tried to protest, but for vain. He told his father that he will obey his father, but will not become a businessman. I still remember that day because I am his mother. All children are sons and daughters, till their parents are alive, especially, their mothers. *** “Bro, why you keep reading this sort of books instead of our study materials?” going through the book, I asked my roommate. He answered my question with another question. “Kiddo, do you know the value of those books?” I jiggled and tried to cover my laughter because I am aware of the fact that he loves organic farming than business studies. But I do not belong to wealthy business family. My parents belong to lower-middle class and I still feel the burden of my tuition fee. Besides, I depend upon my roommate’s books and pocket-money. He was not ready to leave me alone. He continued, “I will nourish my organic farm in my family property and you will be my manager.” I answered, “Still, I depend upon you, but I am not ready to continue it.” His words, “Hmm, I like that sarcastic tone in your voice”. I asked, “Sarcasm?” He enlightened me, “Yes, sarcasm. Because you are indirectly saying that my organic farm is a myth because my father will not allow me to be an organic farmer.” “Bro, I did not mean it” I murmured. Later, he completed his higher education and left our business school. Last year, I came to know that he left his home and his brother is controlling their family business. Yesterday, I met him at a bar and he told that his father agreed to hand over some land to him. Besides, he is working as a bartender. He asked me to wait for a couple of hours at the bar so that he can be free and we can share our experiences. Keeping me waiting for 2 hours, he appeared in his casual dress. We reached his dwelling place in his property. Sitting on the floor, he asked, “What is life? Are you happy?” I answered, “Life is giant wheel, cyclic and kaleidoscopic.” He agreed with me, “Hmm, you are coming to the point, but are you happy?” “Yes, I used to find happiness in my business,” I answered in a less confident voice. “Really, do you face any sort of illness, like high/low BP or Cholesterol?” he asked. “No cholesterol, but BP” I answered and tried to alter his attention by asking, “Are you happy and what your aim is?” “I am happy because I never consider life as an opportunity to gain profit,” he answered. I allowed him to be verbose. “I used to meet a number of people from different parts of the world. Some of them told me that life is just a cross-word puzzle, some easily solve it and some others wait for apt words to solve it. I am still waiting for an apt word to solve my cross-word puzzle. See, Indian Vedas and Upanishads proclaim that life is related to Karma, one’s deeds. If we do good things, our life will be less problematic. Ayurveda unearths the importance of proper food in life. One must try to sustain one’s life, but one must not try to satisfy one’s gluttony. Besides, Zen Buddhism leads one towards the realm of enlightenment, the ultimate answer for one’s existential quest. So, I am trying to amalgamate all these factors (Karma, sustenance, and enlightenment) into the core of my organic farm. My aim is to lead a different life, apart from the mainstream,” he told. I simply murmured, “Better to keep myself away from your influence.” He answered, “Peace.” *** Last year, I met John at the nearby bar. I never consume liquor but the bar owner was my cousin and I wanted to meet him. I chatted with my cousin for a while and he advised me that my daughter’s master’s degree in Plant and Soil Science is enough to be an organic farmer. Then, he pointed out that the bartender who is one among his employees is deeply interested in organic farming. So, I asked him to introduce that bartender. He came with a smile and introduced himself as a proposed organic farmer. Then, I asked him a few question on crop rotation and compost. If I ask these questions to my daughter, she will answer my questions because she is technically trained to manage an organic farm. But this guy is not technically trained and his words prove his genuine interest in organic farming. In the end, I decided to invite John to my farm. So, we reached our farm and he was totally surprised by the sight of fruits/vegetables waiting ready to be harvested. He told me that he never tried to visit an organic farm because he simply imagined that the sight of an organic farm may destroy the imaginary portrait of his own farm in his mind. But he added that my organic farm is near to perfection because almost all the components in his imaginary farm are visible in my farm. Later, he asked me to teach the secret of organic farming. I did not hesitate to do so because I can easily recognize the difference between genuine interest and technical perfection. Later, he told me that he is so happy because his personal interest and career interest is same. I told him that genuine interest in something is related to our Karma and its result will lead us to our ultimate aim. He answered, “So, I am going to follow my dream and you are my guru.” “Hey, the word Karma that I used is by a Hindu saint to point out the importance of good deeds in human life, and I do not think that it is related to organic farming!” I answered with a smile. “But I am trying to amalgamate Karma to the context of organic farming,” he added. Spending 3-4 hours at our organic farm, John returned to his property. After six months, I once more visited my cousin. He told me that John quitted his job and is totally immersed in his personal interest. Later, my cousin helped me to reach John’s farm. I was stunned by the view of John’s farm because it was beyond my thoughts. *** He came to my home with my father. He never tried to impress me because he was aware of the fact that first impression cannot create a clear image, but regular contact can. But I was happy because he was genuinely interested in farming. He asked a few questions related to the technical aspects of organic farming. He walked through our farm like a child who is in search of his playthings. He stopped for a while at the tomato plants, and leaned above the young flowers and said, “I like the fragrance of tomato flowers.” I tried to imitate him, but I was not able find anything special about the smell. After six months, he once more visited our farm and asked me to follow him to the pomegranate tree. There, he touched my finger and declared his love, but I hesitated to accept his love. But he once more visited our farm and the conversation between my father and him proved that my father used to visit his farm. My father told him that he must prove worthy enough to grab my hand. Later, my father told me that he hesitated to accept him as his son-in-law because human beings lose interest in whatever thing that is easily gained. Was I happy? YES. One day, my father told me, “Bella, now our John is a real farmer”. Later, some of my friends told me that John went to his home to meet his father, but for no use. But I came to realize that my life will be with John. *** Mothers are same, like hens that protect their chicks. For the first time, I knew that my daughter is in love. I think she is an extension of my own soul, my love. When her father accepted John as his son-in-law, my daughter was overwhelmed with happiness. I told, “Bella, don’t be this much expressive because married life is Maya. It looks best when one is unmarried, but marriage is a responsibility.” She said, “I can handle it with ease because learned the tactics of co-operation and cohesiveness from you.” Their marriage was at our nearest church. After our daughter’s marriage, my husband told, “Karma married Maya.” See, I don’t have much knowledge in philosophy and such stuff. But my husband further added that, “Karma means one’s deeds and Maya means illusion.” I tried to be philosophical, “Why don’t you say that genuine interest married technical perfection?” He agreed with me, “Both are same.” John returned to his farm with his bride. Years passed. We used to visit my daughter and her family. Yesterday, my son-in-law told me that he is planning to visit his parents. I agree with him because one must be dutiful towards his/her parents. By the by, the philosophical conversation between my husband and my son-in-law helped me to realize something important in human life. Technical perfection, added with genuine interest can transform a simple thing to a masterpiece. My husband is not a perfectionist because perfection is just an illusionary concept. Still, I believe in perfection because it fills human mind with hope and enthusiasm. An old lady like me becoming philosophical! Is it strange? Oh, my grandchildren are in search of their grandma, so let me go. *** Today, my father passed away, happily. Last month, I visited my family and came to know that my brother does not provide enough care to my parents. So, I decided to bring my parents to my farm. My parents, especially my father, were ready to be with me because they were not in favour of mechanical life. Later, my brother visited our farm and tired to be cordial with our parents. He told them that his business hindered him to take care of them. But our parents were not ready to return because the life in our farmhouse attracted them like a magnet. Still, the question is unanswered: Is Karma more important than Maya? Or is Maya to be considered as a neutralizer that regulates odd happenings in human life and helping human beings to restructure their Karma? Are my father and my brother the victims of their Karma? As an organic farmer, I realize that my existence is possible, only through producing fruits and veggies to all. Realize, all the doors are not closed, knock at the right door, it will open, for sure. *** PART (b): Reflective Commentary I am aware of the fact that imagination is the most important step in a creative process. When I was asked to write a fiction story, I tried to understand the importance of imagination. I tried to ponder upon different subject matters related to human life. Gradually, I began to observe others at book stalls, market places, day-care centres, and even at malls. Then, I came to know that human beings like to share their thoughts with others. Besides, people are in search of listeners. Those who are facing problems in their private domains are ready to share their secrets with others. If one is ready to be a keen observer and listener, people will provide enough information to write a fiction story! While collecting information through observation, one must not reveal one’s aim. Returning home, I tried to recollect all the stories told by strangers. Within this scenario, the mental image of an MBA student who was reading a book related to organic farming grabbed my attention. My inner self murmured that here is the plot and grab the opportunity. I chose my protagonist, who is a future businessman, interested in organic farming and rural lifestyle. Next day, I visited an organic farm, far away from my locality and collected basic information on organic farming. Then I came to realize the fact that genuine interest is beyond the scope of technical knowledge. The farmer shared his opinion on fertilizers, irrigation, and the importance of keeping bees in a farm. I made use of this organic farm as the background of my fiction story because the real story is related to the transformation of an individual, not the story of an organic farm. So, I sorted all the information and selected this plot. Then I decided to provide proper structure and shape to my plot. I decided to inculcate the story of two different families from different classes of the society. Within this scenario, I was aware of the fact that the relationship between the members of same social class will create boredom among the readers. So, I decided to portray the protagonist as the member of an upper class family. Then, I decided to select a heroine from the lower-class society because this will help the individual reader to compare/ contrast the hero and the heroine. The proposed work’s genre is already selected, fiction. So, I decided to select the form of my work. This process related to decision making was tiresome because most of the fiction stories follow the traditional method. Some of my friends told me that it is better to follow the pattern and form of traditional story-telling. But some others pointed out that I need not follow the traditional mode of storytelling. So, I researched to take an apt decision to decide my writing strategy. But someone told me that I must try to understand my limitations as a student. I know that I am not an experienced fiction writer. But I have the freedom to choose my own writing style. I can incorporate my own ideas into my story. I am interested in philosophy, Ayurveda, and Buddhist teachings. This interest helped me to incorporate these ideas in the fiction story. Later, I decided the style/technique of my fiction story, stream of consciousness. Chatman (1980, p. 188) states that, ““Stream of consciousness” then is freed to mean something else, namely the random ordering of thoughts and impressions”. One can see that the attempt to write a fiction story/novella based on stream of consciousness is a tiresome effort. To be specific, the writer needs to follow the characters and enter their minds. I tried my level best to be cordial with my characters and it helped me to unlock their minds. One can see that the whole story is told from different angles, by different characters. This technique of storytelling is helpful for the readers to have different views of the protagonist. Besides, there is no proper narrator in this work. To, be specific, narration is undertaken by different characters. This binds the shattered views to a single whole. Summing up, within the context of creative process and decision making, I feel happy because this fiction story is the end product of my creativity. References Chatman, S.B., 1980. Story and discourse: narrative structure in fiction and film. 2nd ed. New York: Cornell University Press. Read More