The thread title refers to Edith Wharton and her childhood habit of opening a book and commencing to mentally create a story. Wharton, I understand, developed this habit even before she could read and continued it despite being forbidden to read novels.
The Bronte siblings created whole worlds of their own, known as Gondal and Angria. Emily Bronte in particular never seemed to emerge from her “childish” fantasy world.
I don’t remember when I first started making up stories myself. I do remember that before I was five, and before I could read, I had created fictional stories. I soon became an avid reader, although novels were frowned upon in my home. But though fiction, per se, was not present in the books I read, I still had entire fictional worlds of my own creating. I incorporated aspects of my life in my stories and characters, yet they were still as fictional as those in a novel.
For example, I remember pacing my grandma’s yard while she worked in the garden. To an onlooker I was a lonely only-child walking in circles. In actuality, I was plotting out a new story, which I seem to recall featured a young lady being portrayed by perfidious brothers. I was whispering to myself, and my grandma was suddenly shocked to hear her gentle, calm and obedient little grand-daughter whispering about “revenge”.
I’ve started this thread to talk about imagination. Why do some children create these imaginary worlds? (Or do all - to a greater or lesser extent?) Are such children more likely to become writers or obsessive readers? What happens to this “gift” as children grow older? Is it something inherent in how fiction is created? Can you think of any examples of this phenomenon in literature or the lives of writers? Or is this perhaps something so inherent in the lives of writers and readers that it’s taken for granted and doesn‘t merit discussion?
Any thoughts relating to this subject would be interesting to me. I have more thoughts on this myself, but would appreciate any feedback.