What does it mean to Write in the Spirit of Tolkien?

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Well, I'd quibble over 'worry', but that's minor. To your question: because he did something unique, profound, and important that I believe is so far, but should not be, a lone tree with no forest having grown from its seeds.

Ah but the heart is a dicey thing, and how full of light it is depends on a few key factors; and even after that is ascertained, it may be that what is in your heart is not after all a seed from that same tree, though it may be good seed.

OK. I grant you your points. But I think that there are times for writing to (in essence) please Tolkien; a valid goal (eg. Tapestry) and there are times for writing to please the master of your soul. Which do you aim for when, and why? And I would argue that the second is a more valid pursuit than the first, unless one is specifically aiming to add to Tolkien's legendarium. If one is creating one's own legendarium (as you are) then you are not beholden to Tolkien for guidance or example; and while you may strive in that direction, the work that you produce will be purer if you strive to write as you are called, rather than to write as he was called.

If the seed that is in your heart is not from that same tree, still, who gave you the seed? And should you challenge the source-- or should you nurture that seed with all the skill that you have, and let the seed produce what it was meant to produce? To stretch the analogy: If Tolkien's tree was a mighty beech, and your seed is an apple seed, are you doing your seed justice if you strive to imitate the beech? Or pick any other seed. Pine, hemlock, maple, oak. Still a proud member of the forest; mighty in its own right; and deserves to be cultivated as what it is, not as what it is not.

Taking that thought to its logical extreme, then I would suggest that writing in the spirit of Tolkien is to profoundly and deeply cultivate the seed in your own heart-- illumination, real water, good soil. See Psalm 1.