Since puberty, I have avoided reading all and any fantasy under the false impression that I wouldn't enjoy it. I'm a lover and writer of literary and contemporary fiction. Unless it's Margaret Atwood, I very rarely pick books up that are "out of this world." And when I do, I almost never finish them. For some reason, I just can't get swept up in a world that I have no experience living in.
But I am a changed woman.
Neil Gaiman has changed me. Forever. I feel as excited to pick up Neverwhere as I did when I was a kid reading Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton.
I am devouring it.
I had known for years that I was probably depriving myself by avoiding fantasy, but it didn't seem to make any difference. I remained stubborn about it.
Until ... I started to write my own novel that is a little "out of this world."
This made me wonder. How many other things in this world am I missing out on because I think I won't like it? Can you imagine the amount of people out there who are missing out on fulfilling and enlightening experiences because they think they won't like something?
Here's some food for thought ... Why do you think we close ourselves up like that?
This has nothing to do with my question, but a friend of mine shared this video of Neil Gaiman with me on Facebook, and it is hilarious, and insightful, (and so true!) so I thought I'd share.
Have a great week!!!
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