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If
you were looking for your own life story in a bookstore, what section would you
go to first?
If
you are stumped for an answer, think about a movie or a story that struck a
chord in you. It might be a fairy tale from childhood, or something from
mythology. It might be tragedy or comedy, an epic saga or a family sitcom.
Check
whether this remembered tale may be about you and the life you are living now
or in your imagination, or both.
Now:
picture yourself in a bookstore or library or browsing Netflix. Where would you
go to look for your story. Fiction or nonfiction, or something in the
borderland between them, like Visionary Narrative?
Romance? Self-improvement? Fantasy? Biography?
Adventure? Folklore?
Maybe you need to invent a genre for what your
story contains. Or make a composite, like those recommended categories that
turn up on Netflix: “Mind-Bending Foreign Drama with Strong Female Lead.” “Military
20th Century Period Piece.” “Dark Fight-the-System Movies Based on
Real Life.” (Come to think of it, I might file parts of my life story in each
of those categories).
In my workshops, I often have people spend
five minutes sketching out a quick version of their life stories so that can
see more clearly what section or sections they belong in.
Here are some genres invented or selected by
members of my creative workshops and online dreamwork courses:
Hot Fiction
Cosmic Westerns
Romantic Science
Mainstream Occult
Black Comedy
Coffee Table Picture Books
Time Travel
Ancient
Mysteries
Past
Life Travels
Fairytale Erotica
and (from someone who has just
completed their first book)
Bestsellers
My
personal favorites?
True
Fantasy
Soul
Biography
Multidimensional
Travel
Ready to play? Picture yourself in that bookstore, on scanning that Netflix screen, and choose the category for your life story. You can pick up to three. Then post your selections on the Comments thread here. You may inspire others to expand their notions about what kind of story they are living.
Astral Lovers by Nicola Daniels
posted February 14, 2011 at 11:12 am
I am not sure if any of these categories are acceptable but they have come first to me…
White Covered Books with Wings
Books of Living Nature
Books on Deep Mining
posted February 14, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Travel Archaeology/Archaelogical Travels
Psycho-Poetic Artmaking
30 Days to Ritual Performance
Laughter and Hell
posted February 14, 2011 at 2:03 pm
The wonders of Magic and Nature!
Avatar!!
posted February 14, 2011 at 2:49 pm
I relate to nature. My favorites while I was growing up were “Two Little Savages,” and “Rolf In The Woods,” by Ernest Thompson Seton. They are still on my bookshelf. Another favorite, added later, is “Walden,” by Henry David Thoreau.
posted February 14, 2011 at 2:55 pm
My titles are:-
“The Mystery of Wisdom”
“The Monks Secret Story”
“The Story of Dark and Erotic Love”
posted February 14, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Nina – winged books, whatever the binding, are always most welcome in the Dream Library!
posted February 14, 2011 at 9:49 pm
I would be in the Jane Austen section…more specifically, “Pride and Prejudice.”
posted February 15, 2011 at 12:08 am
Sections and Titles:
Mystery/Horror/Adult: “So You’ve Decided to Become a Scientist…”
Health: “Avoid Exposure to Money and Sunlight – Naturally!”
Inspirational: “Thirteen Tanka for When You Want to Quit”
Professional Development: “Psychology at Work: Understanding the Madness”
Horoscopes: “Your Next Job”
posted February 15, 2011 at 9:09 am
Family Comedy with real life struggles and Terry Pratchet kind of twists here and there.
Romantic Biographies where love finds all sorts of ways
Grand Visionary Epics that show how the simple things in life never die
Patty
posted February 15, 2011 at 9:11 am
Family Comedy with real life struggles and Terry Pratchet kind of twists here and there.
Romantic Biographies where love finds all sorts of ways
Grand Visionary Epics that show how the simple things in life never die
Patty
posted February 15, 2011 at 9:41 am
What a fascinating topic to consider and reflect on. Thanks, I’ll hope to pursue this along now!:)
posted February 15, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Louisa – You have me laughing with your Mystery/Horror/Adult category and title selection.
posted February 15, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Science Fiction: Life is a Dance with a Drunken Angel
posted February 24, 2011 at 8:13 am
Magic Realism
Heart Opening Mystery
Bodacious, Belly-Laughing Comedy