I told you about the novel I wanna write where the heroine keeps wishing she was an orphan, not because she doesn't think her parents are just great, but because nothing happens to kids who aren't orphans. I think the fictional idea of orphans is just something other people are automatically interested in, though the reality is quite different.
Oh yeah, absolutely. And I think a story where the heroine thinks this is entirely appropriate. Like Mulder saying he always wished he had a peg leg, because then no matter what you do it's an accomplishment. It's not right, of course, but it's illuminating that he thinks that, even idly.
But I think we've talked about this before--the need to remove parents (fictionally) so that the protagonist can either have adventures or get into major trouble. And if they don't grow up, like Annie, this never has any major consequences. If they do grow up, I think you run into a problem where you have to write it really, really well or it's exploitation.
Well, so the protagonist can have adventures, get in trouble, and have immediate sympathy.
I think the things we are discussing is one reason I like the fantasy genre so much. If the world itself isn't real, I don't feel the need for real life situations to be treated realistically.
At that same time, isn't it nice when you can see reality reflected in fantasy? But it does give a distance to it, so you can sort of "matte out" the stuff you don't want to address and focus on what you want.
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*vigorous nod, ending in hanging head of shame*
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I told you about the novel I wanna write where the heroine keeps wishing she was an orphan, not because she doesn't think her parents are just great, but because nothing happens to kids who aren't orphans. I think the fictional idea of orphans is just something other people are automatically interested in, though the reality is quite different.
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But I think we've talked about this before--the need to remove parents (fictionally) so that the protagonist can either have adventures or get into major trouble. And if they don't grow up, like Annie, this never has any major consequences. If they do grow up, I think you run into a problem where you have to write it really, really well or it's exploitation.
Damn I like exploitation sometimes.
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I think the things we are discussing is one reason I like the fantasy genre so much. If the world itself isn't real, I don't feel the need for real life situations to be treated realistically.
HEE MULDER. Is obviously awesome.
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