I for Imagination

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A writer's imagination is what keeps the stories flowing out of each of us. Webster's dictionary says: an act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or not previously known or experienced. Creativy ability.

How do we create something in our mind that is not previously known or experienced? Where does it come from? I am considered a creative person in my sphere, and have been asked by others: where did that story come from? My standard answer has usually been: I imagined it and wrote it down. But I've always asserted that I had to have some kind of point of reference to dream up a new character or idea, but after thinking about Webster's definition, I am changing my mind. Issac Asimov, Jules Vern and many others, thought up whole new worlds that defy the imagination and push the thinking into whole new areas. Why are we, as writers, any different? We are capable of journeying into those unknown places of our imagination and creating a whole new idea. How?

"And there is nothing new under the sun." Taking what we have seen and heard, we can filter it through our own special way of looking at things and create something with a new twist, a special way of looking at it and maybe even a whole new character that surprises the senses. We are unique individuals, therefore, we see things in our own unique way. With this ability, we are capable of re-interpereting what we see and hear into incredible new ideas. Is it actually a mental image of something not present to the senses or not previously known or experienced? Yes. After we re-invent the wheel, it may not look like a wheel anymore. It is our creative ability that has seen this new image or character in our mind and we weave a story that is fresh and exciting.

I want to thank artist Loretta Stephenson (Art By Retta) for sharing her thoughts about creative expression with me. She is an artist with unique creative ability and design.