development Archives - Author K. Williams

One of the favored questions that readers ask me is: where’s it all come from? Until recently, I couldn’t have begun to explain, because I hadn’t spent much time thinking about it. When you’re busy writing up a storm and blogging, your mind is more on the present or future, not the past. The problem with that is that you can lose your way. Remember the saying: If you don’t know where you’ve been, you won’t know where you’re going?

four round stones that say dream, courage, inspire, harmony

Back in the late summer, I started watching a few of my favorite childhood films with my toddler. That brought on the realization of how I came into being a writer. Or, at least, it spoke to me of what inspired me to tell stories. Both film and books have been a hefty part of my life, and I’m not talking about the average watcher/reader. Clearly. After all, I have pursued a degree in film as well as writing.

The films I brought to my little girl had a common thread, beyond genre. They were each touched by a master storyteller: Jim Henson. From the time I was very young, Sesame Street streamed into my home along with the Muppet Show, and all the subsequent films.

It often feels like there is not a thing he didn’t touch with his genius. If asked, I am certain that most filmmakers today would list him in their top ten–safe to say top five, even. That’s a seat earned and deserved. And, I believe he’s responsible for me, too.

Jim Henson’s desire was to touch the lives of those he entertained and educated with his puppets and stories. He wanted to inspire. Sadly, his time to do so was shorter than anyone dare guess. Yet, the work he made lasts through to today. Forever thankful, I share these works with my daughter, still finding the spark in them that has had power over my own life.

Finding out where it all comes from is really important to continuing forward. That’s the path to maintaining the inspiration. Without direction, we often flounder. I’m not okay with just flopping about from pool to pool until something sticks. That’s one aspect of finding my way alone in the publishing world that I have detested. I much prefer teamwork and mentorship. If only more people had the ethic of cooperation that Jim Henson did. Cooperation and caring were lessons he weaved into all of his work. Think about it…

Although my work is not geared toward children and takes quite dark turns, I find the essence of Henson couched within the narrative. The fantastical characters and hero journey are just the wrappings on that inspired gift. Dig a bit deeper and you’ll start to see the similarities.

Think of Maiel, for one. Much like Sarah, she is drawn into the Labyrinth and set on a journey to not only save children important to her, but to realize her truth. The Baron is no Jareth, but he serves the same purpose, obsessed and lovelorn in his own way. The pair fight over the salvation of Dominic. Will Maiel prevail and Dominic rise up, or will the Baron defeat her and they become his goblins? The main issue is that Maiel is not entirely aware of her own truth–her own story. Realizing that she is in control of fate, the Baron loses all power over her, and his bid to conquer her becomes tenuous. The Trailokya Trilogy drives on from there.

Henson also liked to pay homage to history. As I said above, knowing from where you came helps you best gauge where you’re headed. Also, it makes for great storytelling. Messages hold more weight and have greater ability to be assimilated when they’re told in the form of stories, especially fable-like stories, which is an aspect of historical fiction writing.

Most similar is the love of educating and entertaining that I hold. What Henson did was special and this world needs more people like him. His children carry on his legacy, but they should not be alone in that. Their father touched the lives of millions, and many of them are also out there working on their own stories.

Growing up with Henson to watch was a blessing. Having his work to consume to this day is a reminder of that opportunity. Sharing it with my toddler gave me new perspective on these old friends, and I can feel the rivers of creativity flowing strong from the source.

That’s where it all comes from…

When I was just turning twenty, I determined that I would never regret anything. That I would always be thorough of both forethought and intention. Meaning, I would give a good deal of thought to choices and be mindful in pursuing my decisions. I’m sure that’s pretty laughable to a lot of people. But, those people doubt the power of conviction in anyone because they often lack conviction themselves.

We judge the world we’re in by what is within. Despite what we may want to project to the world, what is inside of us doesn’t always equal what we want to be, or cherish, or admire. Am I cynical? Not very much at all. Rather, I am a realist. My science background demands that I remain realistic and test my assumptions. Most certainly people will get angry with my assumptions about them, because it creates dissonance with what they try to project, reveals what is desired to be kept hidden, and forces them to look into themselves, an often frightening premise for any human.

I also enjoyed all my psychology classes. <<insert smiley face here>>

In my twenties I endeavored to keep up the promise to myself. Everything that I stated above was kept well in mind while I did so. You see, I don’t ignore my own humanity in all of this. I am just as susceptible as the rest of you to ignore myself and my truths. That said, I have done a lot of introspection and cleared a lot of nonsense from the inside. The dissonance I experience now nearly always comes in the form of not being able to make ends meet in my plans. I’m almost certain that I have thought things through as well as possible, likely I have, but there are variables I can’t account for in the numerous probabilities that may or may not occur. I tend to get hung up on the things that are least likely to occur, which are usually also the nightmare situation that could arise. Negativity is a monster that devours your dreams.

The source of my anxiety is my ability to see choices out to multiple conclusions, including bad ones, and knowing from experience that regardless of how well planned, I will often find myself on the darker spectrum. Is that negativity? As I said before, I am a realist. From my experience with my life, things don’t work out well even when they clearly should. There is always some taint of fuckery that wends through the result. For example, I finally get something I have long wanted, and it’s a one, two or even three off. If it’s an object, it’s got a chip or crack. If it’s food, it tastes like shit, or it’s so amazing I get addicted and gain weight and feel awful about myself. The disappointment saturates everything.

But, I don’t regret my choices. You see, I always did what was best for me, or someone I cared about, with what I had at the time. Somehow, despite the disappointments and struggles, I saw the end of a rainbow on April 1 and life is beautiful. I am learning so much, and that is the point.