Writing fiction, I've found some of my strongest inspiration has come from cartoons - particularly anime. Keep in mind, I'm not writing this as an expert on anime as a genre - or even as a die-hard fan (I'm pretty sure 'true' anime fandom requires a raft of knowledge I don't have) - just as a fan of some shows that I particularly liked and that left some kind of lasting impression on me.
While a lot of the anime I watched in the early days was aimed at kids - shows like Dragonball Z, Yu-gi-oh, Bey Blades and Pokemon, there were a lot of themes in there that I loved and related to. Especially the idea of self-sacrifice, and the lonely hero who lives on the outside looking in. This is a character type that comes through in a lot of the fiction I write.
So what does anime have that other types of fiction don't? More adult anime often explore seemingly hopeless situations. In Wolf's Rain, the last remaining wolves in Japan are searching for 'Paradise' - a place where they'll be safe and will finally be free of persecution from humans. The journey is soul destroying - there are so few of them and they face incredible odds. Most of them aren't even sure if Paradise exists. It's an idea that their leader, Kiba, can't let go, because if he gives up on this dream, he feels he'll have nothing to hope for.
In Attack on Titan, the last of humanity hunkers down behind a giant wall as seemingly mindless giants roam the earth, eating any humans they find. Only one boy dares dream of one day living in the world outside those walls again, a beautiful world that in his lifetime, only exists in stories.
In Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric seeks to find a way to return his brother, whose soul is trapped in a suit of armour, to a human body. Again, his search is based on a vague legend and he's driven forward by a pure sense of duty.
The odds are astounding. Death is everywhere. But they keep going. Anime is fantastic for putting impossible obstacles in the way of its heroes, constantly forcing them to try, fail and learn. They get knocked back, they make tragic mistakes, they have their faith and friendships tested, and when they win, it's not that obnoxious 'Independence Day' kind of victory. There's always a subdued acknowledgement of everything they've sacrificed for their end goal.
It's that quiet determination, the self doubt, the exploration of the dark place that a true sense of duty comes from that I love and hope to capture in my own writing.
If you're a big anime fan, tell me about your favourite characters in the comments below!
- Kaia.
Sunday 4 January 2015
Thursday 1 January 2015
Writing and Biology
There's a reason I left writing until the end of my 30s. While I was a passionate writer in my early 20s, I soon realised it wasn't just a passion - it was an obsession - something I couldn't do without (an old 'Meet Joe Black' reference there).
I wrote during every waking hour when I wasn't working. This left no time for me to enjoy a relationship with my partner. While my turning to writing was symptomatic of a bad relationship at the time, regardless, I decided it's not something I wanted to do while I had a partner.
So while the ideas would come and get jotted down - sometimes to the tune of 150 pages or more, they were left as ideas, waiting for the day when I would be old and infirm enough to be able to enjoy writing without guilt.
As is common, my life didn't go as expected. And now I find myself in a position where my writing won't get in the way of anything else and my passion - my obsession - is back in full swing.
Which leaves only biology to interrupt.
There is nothing more annoying that being alive. Bear with me here. Living beings need to eat, sleep, relieve themselves, shower, exercise and a myriad other small things that take time and energy.
Whether it's writing or recording music, biology is the thorn in the creative's side. Especially sleep. Nothing is worse than being in full creative flight and realising that if you don't lie down soon, you will probably die.
Eating no longer gives pleasure. It's just a chore, something you have to do to feed the nagging insistence of your body.
Relieving yourself - well - I've become quite annoyed with my body's apparent deliberate attempts to sabotage a track by suddenly reminding me this needs to happen. I feel silly afterwards, but having a tiny tantrum on finding I have to go to the toilet, however humorous it may seem, is a part of my life when I'm in Creative mode.
If biology is such a drag, imagine how much of a drag social obligations can become - or chores like cleaning, cooking, shopping and dressing yourself. Wearing a bra? Hahahahaha. I don't think so!
I envy those who can earn a living from their art. I would never expect to - my writing is a passion I want to share with the world, but I have no expectations that the world will feel about it as I do.
My 40hr a week job is my first commitment, after which, the world unfolds into colour and scent and life as I write or sing.
In this lifetime I may never find a partner who fits the (rather unique) bill I need him to fit in order for him to be The One and that may be a blessing. Because this passion - this obsession - with its concomitant antisocial behaviours, is not something I would wish on a relationship.
- Kaia
I wrote during every waking hour when I wasn't working. This left no time for me to enjoy a relationship with my partner. While my turning to writing was symptomatic of a bad relationship at the time, regardless, I decided it's not something I wanted to do while I had a partner.
So while the ideas would come and get jotted down - sometimes to the tune of 150 pages or more, they were left as ideas, waiting for the day when I would be old and infirm enough to be able to enjoy writing without guilt.
As is common, my life didn't go as expected. And now I find myself in a position where my writing won't get in the way of anything else and my passion - my obsession - is back in full swing.
Which leaves only biology to interrupt.
There is nothing more annoying that being alive. Bear with me here. Living beings need to eat, sleep, relieve themselves, shower, exercise and a myriad other small things that take time and energy.
Whether it's writing or recording music, biology is the thorn in the creative's side. Especially sleep. Nothing is worse than being in full creative flight and realising that if you don't lie down soon, you will probably die.
Eating no longer gives pleasure. It's just a chore, something you have to do to feed the nagging insistence of your body.
Relieving yourself - well - I've become quite annoyed with my body's apparent deliberate attempts to sabotage a track by suddenly reminding me this needs to happen. I feel silly afterwards, but having a tiny tantrum on finding I have to go to the toilet, however humorous it may seem, is a part of my life when I'm in Creative mode.
If biology is such a drag, imagine how much of a drag social obligations can become - or chores like cleaning, cooking, shopping and dressing yourself. Wearing a bra? Hahahahaha. I don't think so!
I envy those who can earn a living from their art. I would never expect to - my writing is a passion I want to share with the world, but I have no expectations that the world will feel about it as I do.
My 40hr a week job is my first commitment, after which, the world unfolds into colour and scent and life as I write or sing.
In this lifetime I may never find a partner who fits the (rather unique) bill I need him to fit in order for him to be The One and that may be a blessing. Because this passion - this obsession - with its concomitant antisocial behaviours, is not something I would wish on a relationship.
- Kaia
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