Red threads of fate
Dear Reader,
Back in late 2018, I suddenly had an idea for a novel. I wasn’t a writer at that time and even though books, reading, and just the power of words in general have played an outsize role in my life, it was still a shock to feel the urge to write a book. I felt like a fish that discovers water. I am laughing as I type that because it sounds like such an exaggeration and yet that’s exactly what it felt like. That I’d been swimming in words- surrounded by them, and often feeling like they were imparting a special secret -and I hadn’t realized this about myself. I knew I liked to write, but I hadn’t known that writing was the only thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
Once I got a little used to the idea, I did what any aspiring novelist does- I googled how to write a novel. As expected, I was inundated with information about story structure, plot, and points of view. But, in the middle of all the technical information, one of the websites said something that shook my entire world. They said a story is about what happens to your protagonist. Make all kinds of terrible things happen to her, they said. Put her in one troubling situation after the other. No, no, no, I muttered to myself, pushing my heroine behind me. Nothing is going to happen to you, I whispered to her over my shoulder. Not on my watch, I assured her solemnly, looking her straight in the eye. Why would anything need to happen to her, for God’s sake? I’m here to write a novel, not to drag anyone into danger. I felt alarmed and fiercely protective, and could not proceed any further.
Dear Reader, have you read the novel where nothing happened to the protagonist? I haven’t either. (I believe she lived safely ever after.)
This was a very peculiar stopping point. It felt perfectly timed as though, in trying to protect my heroine from her adventure, I’d uncovered the work I really needed to do. There appeared a causality that linked events in the outer world to my inner world, bringing attention to old issues that awaited healing. The idea that something needed to happen to her had jolted me. After a few weeks of sitting with my confusion, I realized this is what I believed life was about, being safe. As with many things in life, there is truth here- safety (physical, emotional, etc.) is important. However, I hadn’t noticed I was so concerned about being safe that even the idea of my fictional heroine facing problems could stop me in my tracks. Whatever complex combination of disposition and life experiences had brought me to this point, I could suddenly see all the places it held me back.
Dear Reader, you may have heard of the mythical (from Chinese and other Asian mythology) red thread of fate that is supposed to connect a person with their true love. The red thread of fate ties them to each other and according to what I’ve read, ensures they will end up together. I wonder if similar metaphorical red threads connect us to particular people (not just lovers), situations, or events, and they show up in our lives at some preordained time. They are somehow right for us, as though meant to be there. In entering into relationship with them (people, situations, etc.), we are challenged, at minimum, to understand ourselves a little better. Of course, a psychologist might argue that our behaviors draw specific people or situations to us, and to some degree, I believe that too. But, what about fate?
“There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be...”
― John Lennon
Dear Reader, do you believe in fate? If yes, does it share equal space with free will? Or, is fate too reductive a concept that robs us of our agency?
I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences.
Best,
Priya
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A wonderful and very thought-provoking post, Priya.
I don’t feel as though fate discounts agency or freewill. I think of fate as that feeling in us that calls — like the one that called you to write a novel. And I feel like it is our freewill to choose if we follow the call. However, I do think that if we don’t follow our call — it can often lead to a lot of heartache and struggle because we’re not honouring what our soul wants us to do. And however again, I think that even when we follow our call that doesn’t mean our lives will be easy and that everything will work out — but we will, at least, feel like we’re doing what’s right for us.
That’s my long-winded way of saying it’s complicated haha :)
I love this post because yes, our protagonist's must encounter challenges and demons for our readers to see that they have grown and expanded. And we as authors must put our beloved protagonist in harm's way. Many a writing instructor I have heard say: who wants to read a book where nothing happens? I remember in an early astrology class when we were dissecting our own charts, I was stricken with the fact that I had a fair amount of squares and oppositions in my chart. Alack and alas, I was doomed! But the astrology teacher came over and said, "Aah, yes you have this square and that opposition, but you must realize these are what make a life. These trials, these ups and downs and how you handle them are what makes life interesting. If you had none of those, your life would be boring." That bolstered me and I came to embrace challenges (what else could I do)? I found out later that a co-worker of mine had the most pristine chart: Trines, conjunctions of primo planets, no squares. She has led a predictable and comfortable life and I am happy for her. Me, mine's had challenges, but I've overcome them, and through strife, I've learned a heckuva lot. And have a lot of stories to tell. So yes, I'll always look for that protagonist who has a lot on her plate b/c life is a banquet, and not always what we think we'd like, but oftentimes that is what gives it spice.