Isolation

The theme of isolation is one of the biggeset themes my writing seems to deal with. The fascination of the desire for one to be isolated while fighting the basic need of human contact. What is it that makes us feel so safe, cloaked in a world of our own? And why can't we ultimately stay there?

Although I'm "primarily" a playwright (I say primarily because I have a degree saying so, so might as well), I've been trying to write a fantasy novel for about two years (playwriting also gets in the way of writing it, so I suppose I am primarily a playwright).

While I sit at my crappy temp job (can I get a hollar??) I've been writing piece of this novel in an attempt to come closer to a conclusion before grad school rips away what free time (and desire) I have. My protagonist is one who wishes to be alone because of various fantasy-related events that happened in her life. I realized pretty quickly how boring that is by writing other, more vibrant characters to surround her with. I was unable to keep her a solitary character throughout the novel not only because of its inpracticallity, but because I realized she ultimately does not wish to be alone.

But I realized the main conflict also has to do with isolation. And then the sub-conflict also has to do with isolation.

Is this just a theme that defines me and my writing? Or is this the struggle that bleeds through every piece of literature? Is the desire to isolate ourselves and the struggle to do so why the written word was invented? And is that why we read? We wrap ourselves around stories, but in doing so we open doors to enter into populated worlds in which we become part of. Do we become a part of everyone, the very history of humankind, while we read?

It is a struggle to remain isolated. We must work harder to shield ourselves from the world than accept the company of others. At least that's how it seems.