[Gary Wassner]

As authors we all write about things that are important to us in one way or another, and as readers we read what we find relevant to our lives and our interests. But what are the subjects that we ponder and we struggle to find answers to when we read? What issues plague us, fascinate us, torment us or titilate us and compel us to keep reading and keep searching? What are the really big questions?

[Rocket Sheep]

Is dark brown really the new black?

[JRMurdock]

No. And Orange isn't the new pink either. Black and Pink are timeless.

---

I honestly don't think my fantasy need answer any questions. I don't mind an exploration into things deeper that 'good guys defeat the mad overload', but it doesn't have to answer anything. As long as the story is good. I'm fine. If it makes me think about life, the universe, and everything, even better. If it makes me question a belief I hold steadfast, great. But answers, really not looking for those in my fantasy.

What I would like to see is more questions surrounding world-wide beliefs questioned and light shed on dark shadows. I really enjoyed Dan Brown's Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code. Both broght up a lot of questions about Catholic and Christian beliefs. Actually made me go look up a lot of what he'd written just to see if what he was saying was true (to one extent or another).

So to answer your question, I want more questions to be raised, not answers to existing ones. My reading should either allow 100% escapisism or raise more questions than it answers.

[Gary Wassner]

Sheepie, that really is big, and I'm very disappointed because I just bought a black sweater. Why couldn't you have told me this yesterday?

You know what's big to me? Dying. I think about it and I wonder so much. How will I face that moment? Will I be courageous? Will I be scared? Will I be ready and will I walk into the darkness willingly and without fear?

Another thing that's big to me is whether or not anything I do during my life will be meaningful, will it have any meaning, does it have any meaning if in fact I will die one day no matter what? Am I what I leave behind or am I what I am only this moment? What does it all matter the very second you pass from the world?

The question of whether or not there is a right and a wrong is really big. I hope that there is, I feel that there is, but I suffer from doubts that maybe they are just words that mean nothing in the end. Maybe we should all do whatever makes us most happy, since tomorrow we will die anyway.

Is there a God or are we alone? That's big, even though I don't ask that question too often. I've kind of gotten tired of looking for evidence of his goodness and charity in this rotten and tragic world. I like to think that he's on vacation for a while, rather than dead. Is he dead? Have we finally killed him? That's big.

[Rocket Sheep]

I'm fine with death and I'm fine with my state of non-belief in God. So I guess I focus on smaller problems.

Alien life in the universe always interests me and so does where the human race is headed and I often write about those major things but my characters have more everyday problems to cope with while dealing with the aliens/future... keeping their heads together, coping with loneliness, trying to get by with a little dignity, proving themselves, learning about life and people.

(Don't worry about the black sweater, Gary, you're a writer. Buy a beret and hang out at sidewalk cafe's quote Sartre and wave a passing cars and shout "Hi Harlan!")

[skwirlinator]

Reality verses Familarism

Does my car really like her name?

Did it storm BECAUSE I was having a BBQ?

Am I a professional Example?

If I slept all day would the world know?

Is there really water at the bottom of the ocean?

How can something go below freezing?

Is my dreamworld a real place in another dimension?

Where does concienceness go when you are knocked unconcience?

Am I me?

[Gary Wassner]

Sheepie, I never wear hats. That's actually one of the big questions: Who really can wear them and who can't? But even more important, why? Think about all the implications!

Sidewalk cafes in NYC in winter don't work so well. But spring is coming.

SK - that's a nice list. We should take them one by one and see what we can do with them. Can we start with the dreamworld question?

[Scott Bakker]

What is a question?

[Gary Wassner]

Are you asking me? Then I guess you know, right, since you were able to ask me one? Or was that not really a question?

[JRMurdock]

Must you know what a question is in order to ask one?