Daddy's Christmas Angel

Friday, February 22, 2013

How Does What We Write Affect the World Around Us?

Last night, I viewed one of my favorite television shows, "A Person of Interest." During the course of the program, the young woman who was the lead character for the evening gunned down countless people. Her actions made a fast-paced production. But they also made me wonder. Are TV shows like this causing us to become insensitive regarding human life?

The main prime time presentations on the major networks appear to be crime shows that usually start off with a murder. The 11 p.m. news programs are filled with details and taped scenes from the latest murders. Our national news channels are dissecting the Oscar Pistorius crime from every angle. Are all these terrible events making us immune, or are they just making us paranoid?

I don't know.

Mystery/suspense are among the most popular fiction books on the market. We love to read stories filled with excitement, adventure, and danger. Since I've started at least three of my own books with a murder, I'm guilty as well. Fast-paced books are page-turners. They might even become bestsellers.

However, when I found a new review on Amazon today for one of my books, I started to evaluate the best thing for me to write. The review for Daddy's Christmas Angel was written by a former teacher, someone I don't know. She'd taught second grade like Angie in my story. She "loved the book" and "had a hard time putting it down." She cried at the end.

There is no murder in Daddy's Christmas Angel. It's just a sweet story about three people--a child and two adults--who are all lonely in their own ways. It's about people who need love and caring in their lives. We all need that.

I started to think that perhaps my next book should not start with a murder. Perhaps it should be just another love story...

After all, I have to believe that what we write does affect the world around us. That world already has too much murder and mayhem.

--Mary Montague Sikes

8 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

It's funny what resonates. Maybe that is your new niche?
And Person of Interest is a great show.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Actually, it's probably my favorite show on TV.

Chuck said...

Love Person of Interest...have on the DVR and watching it tonight! On the flip side...Mr Reese rarely kills anyone and goes out of his way to avoid it. As when he stabbed his foe last week within millimeters of an artery.

Stay with the kinder side of life...we have enough of the other that is apparently unavoidable. Just like the song by Don Henley- Dirty Laundry.

Gail said...

I love Person Of Interest.

Write what you are called to write.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Chuck, we seem to be of like minds when it comes to Person of Interest. I think because they usually aren't terribly violent, all the killing in this episode surprised me. "Kinder" works for me. Thanks for commenting.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Gail, thanks for visiting. I like the philosophy of "write what you are called to write."

Sharon Himsl said...

I guess you can only write what your 'muse' tells you to write. For me, it's mystery/suspense also. Found you on the A-Z blog. All the best :)

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

Thanks, Sharon, for commenting. We write what we are called to write. I've just never learned for sure what that is for me. Thanks for visiting and for following!