Psych 101: Fantasy

Back in my college years, a long, long time ago, I tinkered with the idea of becoming a psychologist.  I thought that I could offer advice, a shoulder to cry on for those damanged souls.  I was just starting to break out of my shell. Mother Theresa was in my heart.  Then, my sociology teacher said something extraordinary.

People spend 90% of the time thinking about sex.

What?  The man was either delusional or high on something.  I've yet to find evidence to the fact.  There is no way in the world.  People just don't do that.  Come on.  What a waste of time.  Never pose such a scenario to someone with an overactive imagination.

"That can't be right," I finally said.  Then, I cocked my head and pictured him in speedos.

Note to self:  Eliminate speedos from all future fantasies...hmm, unless they're strapped to Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, that guy from Pearl Harbor, or some other hottie.

It's no wonder that when I tell my friends that I write fantasy, they glance around, lips quivering, cow-eyed, and consider sticking their faces inside a desk drawer.

"No, no," I say.  "Not the stuff you think about 90% of the time.  You know, the genre, fantasy."

Definition:  Fantasy is a genre of fiction that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in fictional worlds where magic is common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of (pseudo-)scientific and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three (which are subgenres of speculative fiction).

It's like a thin line you walk.  Careful which way to sway your hips.  I am confused about something.  There are agents out there that say they don't represent fantasy or science fiction, but they will represent speculative fiction.  If the two are subgenres of the one....well, you see my confusion.

I began writing a spectacular paranormal romance,which wasn't a romance at all, eventhough there's a hot thriving love story in it, because there's not a real HEA until the second book.  It became fiction. 

Wait, you throw in an alien or two, another planet, then it has aspects of science fiction. 

Now, insert a unicorn, a secret power, go do something crazy like toss in a tiny purple fairy who chugs beer, hocks loogies, and curses in five languages just because he can, and ouila, we have achieved fantasy.

Note to self:  Annihilate nasty little hocking fairy before he finds his way into any of my books.

I can't seem to help myself.  No matter what I try to write, it becomes fantasy.  Everything else just seems so dull in comparison.  So I've embraced it.  I am a fantasy writer.  There is a series of ten books waiting to be published, and I continue to query my little heart out. 

Tune in tomorrow and find out how I chose my characters.

As for psychology, eh, Ziggy Freud lost me at penis envy.  In honor of my college years, here's a quote from a shrink.

 "I must learn to love the fool in me the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promise, laughs and cries."       

                                                       ~Theodore Isaac Rubin~