The Tree of Stories and Round Three! - Jamie

http://www.tolkienprofessor.com/wp/lectures/introduction/

You are all required to listen to this 28 minute lecture. U_U Absolutely mandatory. All SS folks MUST listen.

Because we are sub-creators. Because we're busy unfolding the leaves of stories. Because the rage for originality in our modern world eats away at us if we don't reject it. I want to hear more about why Tolkien thought it was a sign of the corruption of our age... it makes sense, it rings true, but I don't know why.

A predictable story is not less valuable, if it's well-written! If you predict how things will go, and the writing is poor, it's disappointing. But a well-written predictable ending can be very satisfying. x) Not that unexpected twists aren't necessary as well, but that's inevitable. There's no way the reader can predict exactly what each character will say and do, even if they have the general picture.

All tales derive from the Great Tree of Stories, not from the writer... they're all leaves. Undeniable. They're all leaves. Butttt! No two leaves are the same.

No two leaves are the same. It's impossible to write a story which isn't original. Just try to write a story exactly like someone else's! Impossible. Similar situations, similar plot elements, etc...? Of course. They're all leaves. But each leaf is unique. No one else has what you have to offer, no one else can unfold this leaf you have before you. If you don't unfold it, we'll never know. Stories have been told for thousands of years, and will continue to be told. Your story is just as valuable as the ones before it, and the ones that will come. No one else has what you have to offer!

We are made in the image of a maker. And we all have sub-creations to offer to the world. For us gathered here, our sub-creations are writing. We here are those who unfold the leaves. x) Not everyone sub-creates by writing. Not everyone writes, everyone has potential in different areas. But we gathered here are the writers! And I love that. ^,_^

So! Let's do another round of freewriting! =D

We can talk about soapboxing later. For now... just write. Just write.

Prompt:

I clutched my suitcase tightly. Everything I owned was in my hands.