Promoting Visionary Fiction, A Quixotic Quest?

ByMargaret Duarte
When it comes to promoting visionary fiction, I sometimes feel like Don Quixote, cherishing magical hopes and taking on missions I’m not equipped to handle. I begin to wonder if I’m no more than a delusional dreamer, fighting windmills and sheep. Then, as so often happens in life, along comes a reminder that being idealistic and impractical may not be quixotic after all.

The value of dark horses

During the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, for example, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, and two re-united Beatles proved the value of dark horses, following one’s arrow, and attempting something new.
  • Katy Perry, the daughter of Pentecostal pastors and an artist who has traversed music genres as diverse as Country Gospel and Italian Opera, emerged to prominence with her pop and trap combo, “Dark Horse,” a creepy departure from her usually candy-coated, bubbly themes. Of her current success, she says, “I feel like my secret magic trick that separates me from a lot of my peers is the bravery to be vulnerable and truthful and honest.”
  • Kacey Musgraves stole the Grammy spotlight by winning Country Album of the Year and Best Country Song with “Follow Your Arrow,” a song about smoking weed and gay romance and not playing by the same old rules. How’s that for piercing a genre with a blunt point? “I don’t want to be constrained by boxes or genres,” Musgraves says. “When it’s good music, I don’t think genres matter.”
  • Ultimate genre busters, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, did it up big at the Grammies with their performance of “Queenie Eye” from Paul’s latest album New, about being nervous and doing it anyway and going back for more. Says Paul, “I think people who create and write, it actually does flow–just flows–from into their head, into their hand, and they write it down. It’s simple.”

Throwing in a new trick

Another event that emphasized the value of taking risks and attempting something new took place last week during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. American snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg won the first ever Olympic gold medal in men’s snowboard slopestyle by throwing in a new trick. Besides the usual jetting, whirling, and flipping of his sport, this “crazy” guy formerly known as “second-run sage,” helicoptered through 4 1/2 rotations, while grabbing his board and flexing it behind his back. “Never even tried it before,” he said. “Never, ever tried it in my life.” Oh, and by the way, like genres, these tricks now have recognizable names: Cab Double Cork 1260 with a Holy Crail grab and Back 1620 Japan Air. “I kind of do random stuff all the time, never make a plan up,” Kotsenburg said. “I had no idea I was even going to do a 1620 in my run until three minutes before I dropped. It’s kind of what I’m all about.”

 Defying expectations

These timely examples of genre busters are mind-blowing reminders that the writing and promotion of visionary fiction, like singing and snowboarding, is about crossing lines, breaking barriers, and saying no to rules and regulations that have lost their meaning. Promoting visionary fiction a quixotic quest? Nah. More like helicoptering through 4 1/2 rotations, while grabbing my board and flexing it behind my back.

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21 Comments

  3. Ever since, 50 years ago, I was seeing a psychotherapist at the time, and he told me I was a Donkey Shot. A what? says I. 'It's the French pronunciation of — er — how you say, Don Quixote,' said he.

    But I notice on the fly-leaf of my last book, a miscellany of stories, I've written; 'New Consciousness, New Energy, New Writing, Crossing Frontiers.'

    1. I believe there's a little Don Quixote in all of us. By the titles of your stories, it appears you know all about crossing lines and breaking barriers – a true visionary.

  5. Pingback: Genre Busters | Margaret DuarteMargaret Duarte

  6. The Beatles were a visionary group that broke boundaries with their unique sound and style. They were the first band that influenced me. I still adore and appreciate them to this very day and so do my daughters.

    “I think people who create and write, it actually does flow–just flows–from into their head, into their hand, and they write it down. It’s simple.”

    Sir Paul McCartney’s quote demonstrates his connection to the higher realm of creativity and explains why he’s still relevant today. When creativity flows outward with little thought, effort, and resistance, the visionary in us can explode into reality. Kapow!

    1. There's been much to-do about the Beatles lately, and the truly remarkable thing is, as you say Eleni, their music is still relevant today. If Paul, George, John and Ringo had been authors (though to me song-writing counts as authorship), they'd be revered amongst the classics. As it is, they're revered by their many fans, young and old. True visionaries.

  7. Excellent article, Margaret. Great jumps across the divide in disciplines to illustrate your point. Have noticed that some of my brightest stuff comes when I dare to compare or combine things that supposedly have nothing in common. Your words helped me to understand why the illogical or taboo juxtaposition so often works. No doubt what Cervantes was trying to get across with his anti-hero Don Quixote.

    1. Thanks, Vic. I love looking for the common in the uncommon and reconcilable in the irreconcilable. I've also always had a soft spot for Don Quixote. Cervantes, on the other hand, has my sympathy for the difficulties he experienced during his life as an writer; though I've often heard that life's difficulties bring out an author's best work.

  9. Everyone has now said everything I'd would have said myself. However…

    Just an aside to my fellow members: I left a comment on the VFA FB page by clicking the link up on the right. It seems I was allowed to do that, but I don't seem to be a member. It's a 'locked group'. Don't suppose I can add myself, so wonder if one of you would kindly add me.

    1. Hello Esme. There is a box on the upper right of the VFA FB site where you can add your name as a new member. Then one of the administrators of the page will approve you (of course!), and you're in.

    2. Hi Esme. There's a box on the upper right side of the VFA FB page where you can put your name as a new member. Then an administrator will approve you and you're in.

      Margaret

      On Tue, Feb 25, 2014 at 1:17 AM, Visionary Fiction Alliance wrote:

      >

  10. There have been times in life, in my career as a Holistic health care provider, and now in my writing life, where I indeed feel alone, sort of flapping in the breeze. Your article (as well as the VFA) has once again reminded me that avant-garde thinking seems crazy at first but then soon becomes the norm. And I am not alone! 🙂

    1. You are most definitely not alone, Jodine. Here's hoping that soon our avant-garde thinking, indeed, becomes the norm, while, at the same time, always remains open to change.

    2. After so many years in the conservative corporate confines of the Wall Street Journal's paradigm for the writer's life, I am having such fun getting reacquainted with that avant-garde side that sent me protesting in the streets in the '60s and '70's and other such anti-establishment activities. Coming out of the closet as a Visionary and finding so many kindred souls here is so refreshing. If we are weirdos, we are now weirdos in number, which, uh, makes us closer to the norm, right?

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