Author: Fallton Havenstonne

Microcosm

Fallton Havenstonne

When we look at the microcosm of a structure or system, we focus on the particulars rather than the whole picture itself. When we become focused on the particulars, we look at the details, the minute components that make up the whole.

But we might end up so fixated on the details that we forget about the big picture. For a writer, it’s kind of like focusing on editing one chapter of a story, then a paragraph of that chapter (maybe even a sentence), and then ignoring the rest of the chapter.

Or it’s like a scientist that studies a plant, and then the leaves of that plant, and the cells of that plant, and the organelles of the cell, and the molecules that compose the organelles, and then they get so lost in studying the molecules that they forget why they were studying the plant in the first place.

To study the microcosm of anything can give us insight and knowledge of the components and mechanisms which function and operate within a structure or system. But how far do we go in our study? At what point do we stop analyzing each minuscule detail to the point that we lose sight of our goal, which is to understand the big picture, rather than the countless tangents and the endless number of microcosms it can lead us down?

Humble

Fallton Havenstonne

What does it mean to be humble? To be humble is to acknowledge the fact that we are human. As humans, we make mistakes, learn, fall and get up like everyone else.

We can assign value to the money we make, our intellect, our status, our rank in a field or sport, but these gloss over the existential aspects of humanity. It is our humanity which makes us common–equal in the metaphysical sense (having faculties, sense perception, consciousness, free will, etc.).

When we look at the world from a quantitive lens, it can be hard to be humble. Everyone has a different net worth. Everyone has different skills, different achievements, and different areas of expertise. As a result, a small percentage will be at the very top. If we create a graph from it, we will get a bell curve with many people normally distributed in the middle. When we judge each individual this way, it’s as if we become focused on where they rank.

But rank can change overtime. And rank doesn’t give a wholistic picture of the complexity of each individual. Rather, it gives us a picture of the data, but not the personalities behind them–the life behind them.

And that’s where humility comes in. To be humble, we recognize that there is a story behind each person in the graph. There is a struggle, a challenge to overcome, obstacles, setbacks, failures, victories, etc.

As such, just because someone might be successful in one area, it doesn’t mean they are in others. They might excel at their job and have various accomplishments and awards under their belt, but what about the other areas in their life? What about their shortcomings, or the multitude of things they have little to no knowledge in, little to no achievements in?

Thus, to be humble is to acknowledge this truth that is common to all of us. To quote Socrates, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”

Universal

Fallton Havenstonne

Whether a story was written in the past, written today, set in the future, or in another realm, they connect with us when we can relate to them. In fact, we become more engaged in the story when there is a familiarity or bond with the characters and the conflicts.

When characters go through something we’ve gone through before, a connection is made by how it speaks to our humanity. Our humanity is not just a set of experiences, but ones that revolve around themes–or values. Those themes can be about good and evil, truth and deception, triumph or suffering, etc.

When we make connections with the characters, we see ourselves in their shoes. We become invested in their plight, become part of the story. We hope nothing bad happens to the protagonist, that the conclusion will be a positive one. When this happens, the story has an almost mysterious bond with our psyche. It’s as if that fictional world has become a reality–a world that is like our own not in concrete terms, but in universal ones.

Hobbies

Fallton Havenstonne

It’s great to have hobbies such as playing a game, reading, writing, or collecting things. But what happens when that hobby becomes more than just a hobby? What happens when it takes over, consuming more and more of our time?

For one, it’s important to keep to our priorities, to focus on what we need to accomplish first. Hobbies should be relegated to “pastimes”, things we do when there is extra time on our schedule. However, that doesn’t limit what they might become. A hobby might take hold of us, such as when we stay up late to read a book (or a series), or when a short story turns into a novel–which turns into a series.

When hobbies start to take over, I don’t think the issue is with the hobby itself, but with our time management. It’s great if a book captures our imagination, or if a story project expands beyond what we could’ve ever imagined. But all that means is that we’re spending more time on them for a greater length of time. What would’ve been a two or three week endevaor might turn into months–or years.

Learning Never Ends

Fallton Havenstonne

From the day we’re born, we learn about the world. From the first step we take, we learn to walk. And all the days after, we learn from our parents, school, and society. And after we graduate and earn a degree, our education doesn’t end there. We learn to how to land a job.

We learn that the workplace is much different from the academic courses we took. Everything in school seemed to be theoretical, whereas in the workplace, it is practical–highly specialized. There, we adapt to how the company operates, how it runs. It takes time: weeks, months, and years to become expert in our field.

But even as we gain work experience, we will learn about things outside of work: moving, how to live alone, paying bills, and how to be social in new environments. And if we have children, we learn to be good, caring parents. And as time goes by, we take on new hobbies, change jobs, and plan for retirement–all of which require learning.

And as the world changes, we learn from the news, from reading books, online articles, etc. We are constantly refining our worldview, our beliefs, our view of humanity. And with each year we live, we add another year of experience. And what awaits is another year to learn.

Real Memories

Fallton Havenstonne

I believe that real memories come from direct, personal experience. Memories that did not have a virtual source, but had a tangible, environmental component to them.

It’s different from the experience we have when watching a movie, browsing the internet, playing a game, or reading. Those can bring enjoyment, and bring awareness and knowledge to us, but they lack the kind of interaction we could only experience when we’re in an environment.

Real memories are the ones that we return to–often think about from our past. They are unique in that they cannot be recreated. They can be memories of a vacation we went on, a gathering with friends 10 or 20 years ago, or a conversation we had with someone that broadened our perspective and wisdom. It could even be something we saw in nature, such as the way the sun lit the waters, or the view from a mountain top.

What to Write About?

Fallton Havenstonne

Science Fiction. Literature. Short Stories. History. Non-Fiction, etc. The list goes on and on.

When I don’t know what to write about, I look at what story ideas appeal to me. Which ones I haven’t written about before. Which ones I’m dealing with personally, or that I’ve thought about deeply. Even though there are a few, I know I can only work on one.

I might write them down, or just think about a handful at a time. I ponder about which one I can put the most creativity and time into. And when I filter out the ones that are great on the surface, but not in substance, and narrow it down to the one that keeps resurfacing in my mind, I will know which one I need to write.

Directionless

Fallton Havenstonne

When I don’t know what to write, it’s like being lost in a forest. There’s no clear path, no markers for me to follow. I see countless possibilities, all of which look indistinguishable from one another. When I think I’ve found the right one, it takes on a nebulous form, appearing like the rest. None of them calls out to me. In this forest of stories and ideas, it’s like none of them are right for me.

To be on the right path, I need to stand still and think about what’s important to me, what I value the most. Then when I filter out the ideas and narrow it down to one, I know where to begin. The sunlight beams down through the leaves, the branches, revealing the path like the yellow brick road. And then I know where to go, what direction to take.

Mindset

Fallton Havenstonne

Being in the right mindset is a must for writing. When we’re not in the right mindset, other things can get in the way. Thoughts about work, the news, or what needs to get done around the house.

To get in the right mindset, we need to tune everything else out. We need to be present in a mind-reality where the most important thing is our imagination. Once we’re there, the words can flow and bring our ideas to life.

Looking Ahead

Fallton Havenstonne

Sometimes we get caught up focusing on our mistakes and failures. It’s hard to look ahead when we’re focused on negativity and all the things that went wrong on past projects.

A disappointment can be a stepping stone to something greater, however. That disappointment taught us what we needed to know for the future, including how to handle difficulties, our mistakes, and how to face challenges ahead.

When we look at things this way, the failure wasn’t really a failure. It was an education into what we needed to learn to grow, to succeed going forward. We learn to avoid the mistakes of the past, and to apply what works and is effective into our next endeavor.