Putting the Unspoken Things into Stories

Why I put unspoken thoughts into fiction: I explore using stories for sensitive topics (like mental health reflections after Thunderbolts, or cultural takes) & the craft involved.

Writers often possess thoughts and experiences they are keen to explore, but sometimes find they aren't always able to – at least not directly. Perhaps the subject matter is too intimate, potentially divisive, or simply too intricate for casual conversation. So, instead, these ideas often find their way into the stories we craft. Fiction becomes a vital outlet to examine things that are difficult to voice openly.

Even with the people closest to you – close friends or family – there are boundaries. You can only reveal so much. Certain topics might make even loved ones uncomfortable, or perhaps they wouldn't truly understand. For instance, I saw the Thunderbolts movie yesterday, and the ending resonated deeply with me because of my own experiences navigating mental health. It struck a powerful chord. But right now, I feel reluctant to discuss that aspect of myself in detail. I worry that people might begin to see those struggles as characterizing me entirely, and I am certainly more than that.

Then there are matters connected to my heritage in Bangladesh. As long as I visit periodically – maybe once a year or every few years – there are particular opinions I hesitate to voice openly, especially in forums where many Bangladeshis might encounter them. My perspectives on certain things aren't just uncomfortable for many back home; some would find them deeply offensive. Perhaps someday, with sufficient separation, I can engage more frankly. But not yet. It’s similar with some observations about society here – they require more nuance than a brief social media update allows.

So, this drive to delve into these guarded feelings and opinions often channels me into writing fiction. It’s a method to process them, understand them more fully, and maybe share them in a different capacity.

I believe there’s a real craft in how you integrate these themes into a story without coming across as preachy. Consider someone like Brandon Sanderson, who is Mormon, or Tolkien, who clearly held strong ethical convictions. Both writers adeptly examined significant themes like morality and the conflict between good and evil. They shared their worldview through their narratives in a way that felt organic to the setting, not like they were merely using it as a soapbox for their views. They weren't just venting unprocessed emotions, either; it was intrinsic to the storytelling.

That’s a quality I respect and aim to cultivate in my own work. So, I look forward to channeling more of these reflections and ideas into my stories as I continue writing. It feels like a meaningful way to articulate what might otherwise remain unspoken.