Writing is a mystery - no matter what genre of the art a writer pursues. Stories are made up of clues and motives and a need for resolution. And we need people, places and things to get us to the resolution - people that aren’t us, but are us.

Writers exist in parallel worlds. Don’t you think? Well, if you haven’t thought about it - please do! When writing we are the characters and we’re also ourselves (the writer) watching our character selves from a distance. Up close and personal and at the same time hovering above, ala out of body. Without having thought about this before, I examined the prospect and found, for me, it’s true. For instance, I love mystery and love to ‘live’ in mystery through my writing and my characters. I am them and I’m watching me be them in the creative process. Don’t confuse this with the specific mystery genre because it’s so much deeper than a matter of genre.

I read a superb essay in the New York Times today (Sunday) entitled, “The Spooky Art,” by Roger Rosenblatt. The article presents a clarity to the art of writing. For me, writing has been a secret addiction, as far back as I can remember. My dirty little secret that I was afraid to share with anyone for fear of ridicule, discouragement or embarrassment. No one could know. I wrote in journals and destroyed the evidence. I love writing because I do it alone. Yes, I’m an introvert. Yet I’m not alone because I’m surrounded by all those that I create. And as alone as I am in the writing my goal is to have readers pick up the story and lose themselves in the world I’ve created - to know my world, be part and parcel of this thing that I’ve constructed. Putting myself out there is a bold and scary prospect.

But now I’m at the point of life where I want to toss off the cape of fear - fear of being “found out” - and take pride in ownership of my alter ego(s). Each character that pops into my head and onto the page (virtual or paper) is me, good and bad, all the nitty gritty. And the best part? I have no idea who all these characters are, where they’re going or what they’ve got planned until it happens. The journey is an unknown - a road that could lead just about anywhere with curves, turns, straightaways and dead-ends. A trip I’m excited to take. Rosenblatt describes this phenom best when telling how E.L. Doctorow compared his own writing process to driving at night, when you’re only able to see as far as the reach of the headlights.

Darkness is my friend. I’m infatuated with the darkness because it holds all the secrets. Secrets buried in nooks and crannies that maybe I’ll find - or maybe not. And the light of day allows for picking apart and examining all the night’s transgressions. The murder and mayhem, good and evil, just and unjust - all pieces of the mysterious puzzle that I yearn to put together. Looking at clues, pursuing them and barreling through those that are roadblocks. Plunging onward until finally pulling the right thread unravels the whole scarf and uncovers what lies beneath - resolution.

Good prevails. Good must prevail because that’s what our readers want - a reward for agreeing to take the journey with us. There must be a reward or the time invested won’t have been worth it.

And once the ride is over?

As a reader, I’m always in search of the next great expedition, which is good news for writers!

As a writer, the feeling is bittersweet. I’ve finished with the story and I’m happy for having survived the sojourn - completed a monumental task. (To date, my experience is limited to one completed work, which requires a few rewrites.) But I’m sad because all my alter egos, those I’ve been living through vicariously, have gone and I’m left with just myself. Unchallenged. Lonely. Until the next time, which is good news for readers!

I hope for many ‘next times.’

Write on!