On The Chain Gang #7 – Wish Fulfillment

My LINK in the Blog Chain

THE BLOG CHAIN is comprised of a group of fiction writers from Query Tracker and Rally Storm. We thought it would be fun and insightful to acquire differing ideas and opinions on a particular writing topic.

So, we work through the chain posting one-by-one with the same general focus, and then, we repeat the process with a new topic for discussion. As I mentioned yesterday, I am the second link in the chain this topic round, so the subject choice and previous post are at Sandra’s blog and the next post will be published at Elana’s blog within the next couple of days.

All Blog Chain members are listed in the sidebar to the right.

My previous Link in the Blog Chain was on the topic of Writerly Gems.

This Round’s Topic is:

What is the role of wish fulfillment in fiction? What personal wishes do you want your stories to fulfill? Are they the same ones you want to read about? How do our fictitious wishes affect our everyday dreams?

(Note to the Blog Chain members: feel free to answer to answer just one of these questions or as many “as you wish.” My intent here is to make this topic broad enough for everyone to address, not to stress anyone out. The holiday season can be stressful enough as it is!)

Wish Fulfillment — An Essential Element in Story Telling

I think there is an element of wish fulfillment in all fictitious writings. Whether wish fulfillment is on the part of the writer or held within the character, varies from story to story. Sometimes an author wants to live the life he writes for his character(s). At other times, the characters themselves are goal driven and strive to attain their objective, thereby achieving wish fulfillment.

 

 

In Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL Ebenezer Scrooge is a bitter, miserly, bachelor who turned against love and family. But one must believe that a kernel of longing remained in his heart, for when the ghosts appeared, showing him the past, present, and future, his heart was softened. He experienced a child-like awakening to the joys of Christmas, which he shared with his family, employees, and indeed, the entire town. His deep-rooted wishes of belonging, acceptance, and love were fulfilled.

J.K. Rowling’s HARRY POTTER longed to have a normal life. His journey forced him to decide which path to take. Did he want the power and riches that would come with possessing the Deathly Hallows, or the safety and security of ridding the Wizarding World of the evil Lord Voldemort? He ultimately made his choice and followed through to gain wish fulfillment.

Wish fulfillment is a crucial piece to any story line, even if it only plays a small part in the undertones.

As for my own wish fulfillment, I would have to say my favorite wish is to get lost in a story. I want to be totally immersed in the story world and the characters. I don’t want to be on the sidelines looking in; I want to be a part of the story. So, a writer who can draw me in and make me feel is wish fulfillment for me.

Of course, if I could just find a little magic to take care of the housework… now that would be real life wish fulfillment!

 

Don’t forget…the previous post and Chain start is at Sandra’s blog, and the next link is Elana’s. Enjoy!

 

Don’t forget to leave a COMMENT.

Stumble It!

~ by bloggingexperiments on December 2, 2008.