My Inner Writing Nymph – V. M. Franck
In the mystical inlets of my being there lives a little nymph I named Violette. She is the best in me. She’s an old-time storyteller, one who desires to change the world for the better through the weavings of her mind. Her desire to come into her own was conceived when I read Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach years ago. First, she wanted to learn to fly. In so doing, she longed to teach others to do the same, like Jonathan did.
As she ventured out of the hamlet she called home, her innocence was battered again and again by events in her life. Some of the difficulties she encountered, she triggered herself, like we all do, and some were thrust upon her. She struggled through it all, and when she did, she found impetus to write. Everything is fodder for the writer. As she came into being and sprouted her own wings, she and I became one.
Sometimes one event alters the rest of one’s life. So it was for me and my inner Violette. My brother literally triggered the change. He shot and killed his neighbors on a damp, cold night. As I helped my loving parents through this horrific tragedy, I came to know that I must write the story of what it was like from the killer’s family’s point of view. With my first book on the subject I taught myself to write. The craft of writing is not just putting words to the page, but making sure each word is justified in being there and conveys to the reader what the writer actually means. That is difficult. Good writing is not an abracadabra experience. It takes time to learn.
Once the religious teachings of my youth failed me during this crisis, I grew toward a metaphysical reality, one which actually began with visions and dreams in my preschool years. Some of my visionary insights are revealed in the nonfiction book. In my second book I strove to overcome my brokenness due to the death of my sweetheart. I wanted him back. Visionary fiction became the vehicle for his return. I created a tale whereby it was possible…in a magical realism kind of way. My inner writing nymph was truly growing into her own.
The prophetic words of one of the masters comes to mind now. His name was Barnaby Conrad. For years he and his wife hosted the Santa Barbara Writers Conference in Montecito, CA. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend three times. In one of his workshops Barnaby said, “If you can do anything else, do it. If you must write, write.” I write. Nothing else worked. Another workshop leader I met at that conference, Anita Clay Kornfeld, said that one can tell more truth in fiction. My subsequent experience provided proof of her statement. In fiction one does not need to worry about being sued for defamation of character, thereby liberating the storyteller to delve into that which is true, the crux of reality.
Some of the truths regarding the murders I concealed to protect my mother. When she was dying I longed for the old wise ones in my family, the ones who passed away when I was young, to help me through the difficult situation. They were no-nonsense women who had earned their strength in the depths of hardship and heartache. I needed that strength. But alas, they were gone…or were they?
Deciding to write a story about old women, I was pondering it while seated at my easel painting a portrait of my dad’s mother, Renie. A presence came to me, her presence. Regarding my impending loss and what I, alone, must do for my loving mother, Grandma Renie said, “Come to us in the days ahead, and we will see you through.” “We” referred to herself and her daughter Ida. So I began the trek along the digital page, featuring Renie, Ida and my mother’s aunt Lottie as three of my characters. As I wrote this work of magical realism and metaphysical quips, it was their shoulders upon which I stood. With their help, within the storyline I built the fortitude I needed to make it, myself. This work became the first in a series of three. The first is their story. In the second and third ones, these half-crazy women, who are questionably alive, bolster two young women struggling with their lives, whether the young women want the help or not.
In another novel I overcame my distress regarding the intolerance and judgmentalism built into the religious teachings of my youth. The tale evolved into a multicultural, multi-religious creation designed to convey understanding. In each of my works of fiction I’m resolving something, issues that many people face, like violence, the affects of war, self-righteousness, love, rejection and all manner of dilemmas. I approach these situations through visionary lenses. Why? Because it is the way I view the world. For me, nothing else works.
Each writer needs to be true to their inner creative nymph. I am true to mine. In so doing, I have opened many doors for myself, doors to satori–moments of enlightenment. It is my hope I can help you do the same, the way other writers have done for me.
We have entered a time when the insights and skills of all individuals are needed to save life on this planet from extinction. We are all in need of your voice, your actions, your inner convictions to ease and reverse the current trends. Please search your inner being, find the good within, develop it and show it forth in pursuit of this goal. It has never been more important.
Namaste–when we meet in the place where your higher self touches mine, we are one. I look forward to seeing you there.
– Violette
About the author
V. M. Franck grew up in a highly religious working class environment. After working at a series of unsatisfying jobs, in her late twenties she earned a B. S. from Oregon State University. Thereafter, she worked with abused and disadvantaged children. A family tragedy changed her perceptions permanently. She wrote and published a book about its impact on herself and her family. She met Philip, who had always wanted to be a writer. They married and moved to the mountains to write full-time. She is currently writing her eleventh book. All but one of them are works of Visionary Fiction. She is also an exhibiting artist with her own online gallery.
Visit her website: whereartmeetstheheart.com
Her works of Visionary Fiction include:
– Tater’s Maters of Hootenanny Flats, The Maters Series – Book 1
– Resurrection Rose, The Maters Series – Book 2
– Final Entry, The Maters Series – Book 3
– In Ways We Can’t Imagine, The St. Germaine Chronicles – Book 1
– The Pacifist’s War, The St. Germaine Chronicles – Book 2
– Once Without Dying
– The Sword of Ruth: The Story of Jesus’ Little Sister
Very insightful post! I deeply admire how you turned a personal tragedy into a path of self-growth and healing. It couldn’t have been an easy path, and one that will likely be ongoing. I’m glad you found creativity to help you through it.
On a personal note, I can relate to what you’re saying about how your religious upbringing affected your judgments. I once believed I never judged people. It was only after I’d left organized religion that I started to notice that I did have judgments, many of which I wasn’t aware of.
Not sure about you, but I can’t count how many times people have told me that I left the religion of my youth because I lost my faith. If anything, my faith grew stronger after I detached. I felt connected to people on a more profound level. It was my religious label that gave me a sense of feeling apart from others. I’m not knocking religion here because it helps so many people. I’m only speaking from my own experience. I’m somewhat stubborn. I had to make myself an empty palette to find a connection in my own way and in my own time. The process is still ongoing. I’m still uncovering judgments that I never knew I had. Each time I isolate and annihilate a judgment, I feel a sense of relief, as if a weight has been lifted off of me. What I have personally experienced is that judgment is a form of self-enslavement to a belief. It kept me from questioning the validity of why I’d felt the way I did. I don’t want to be any part of that!
Great post!
I second Eleni’s comments. This is a most authentic account of your experiences, and I thank you for sharing it with us here.
“one can tell more truth in fiction” – This is so, so true.
Thank you so much Eleni. You are most kind. My family and others I have known thought I was lost too. Some of my cousins are still trying to convert me back to the “true way”, the very cousins who weren’t there for me when I needed them after the murders. They never even called or wrote or said anything about it to me, all the while I was drowning emotionally. As I read somewhere “I am the one I was looking for” all along. Sometimes that realization comes only after horrendous heartache or disappointment(s).
The lesson in judgment you are talking about is a hard one to fathom at times. At least it has been for me. It can be quite humbling. May light fill your heart, dear one.
Saleena, I am most pleased to be part of this group. Sometimes over the years it has felt like I was walking alone in a storm that was about to blow me away. But alas, I guess my roots have grown deeper into the soil. Thanks again.
Great to get to know you, Violette, and to learn about your life and work. What little I got of your story from the above makes it feel like I know you–perhaps that happens more than we credit. I started this life in a religious commune, spent my adolescence in a Catholic seminary, and then my early adulthood in a fanatical cult–fortunately, there was the writing all along and an additional forty years (almost an old guy now) to work my way out of that entanglement. The VFA as a joyful, cheering support group for the last several years has been a huge help also.
Hope to hear a lot more from you going forward. Blessings on your work.
This is a unique and compelling story told through a fresh lens. So glad you’re equipped with the artistic gifts and motivation necessary to interpret this tale for the rest of us. Thanks to you both for sharing this.
I’m enchanted by your inner nymph, your voice, coming from the experiences of your life. Your growth as a writer compels me to dig deeper into the losses and wonders of my own journey. Visionary fiction is a grand screen to work upon. I will add your books to my to-read-list, for when I have finished my current novel. Blessings and light.
You speak for many when you give the reasons you write fiction (One can tell more truth in fiction.”), more specifically, visionary fiction (“…one who desires to change the world for the better through the weavings of her mind.” And. “Once the religious teachings of my youth failed me during this crisis, I grew toward a metaphysical reality…). One last quote from your post I identify with: “Each writer needs to be true to their inner creative nymph. I am true to mine. In so doing, I have opened many doors for myself, doors to satori–moments of enlightenment.” Thank you for your contribution to the VFA.
What a lovely article. I felt the strength born out of deep pain. And the healing transformation that writing has provided.
I especially liked two things you said (out of many things I liked here)
As writers we must “make sure each word is justified in being there.” What a wise writing craft gem.
And “one can tell more truth in fiction.”…which is the reason Visionary Fiction exists.
Thank you for sharing your beauty, strength, and creativity.
I thank you all for your kinds words. Your willingness to take the time is so cool and reaffirming of what I am doing and why. I’ve been writing books since 1981. The process was been full of ruts and ditches. I fell into some of them.
For writers who love the craft, even when it is frustrating and discouraging, giving up is not an option. At least it hasn’t been for me. I feel a kinship with you. If you want to contact me at all, feel free to go to the contact page on my website. I’ve been looking for friends of like mind for a long time.
What an amazing life you have lived, Violette. Your paintings are exquisite, and your heartfelt message comes through a lovely, lucid, writing style. Writing is such a healer, isn’t it? It has a way of making this wild and woolly life fruitful. It also makes the world slow down. I so agree that true stories sometimes don’t tell the whole truth. Thank you for sharing your story, and for opening your heart after experiencing such tragedy.
Thank you, Robin, so much. Yes, writing is a healer. In each of my books I’m working through something. For me, it’s better than going to therapist. Everything is fodder for a writer. I have found that being open is the only way I can survive with any sense of sanity.