Creative Re-Writing

There are so many stressful things in this world. Most of the causes come from the news. While it is vitally important, in today’s world more than others, to show positivity, it is still difficult with the given culture and society. That does not mean that we should ignore our own mental health, and refuse to take time for ourselves. While there are many ways an individual can relax, I find that my way is somewhat odd to other people.

I enjoy watching movies and rewriting different parts of them, or adding scenes and people. The older ones typically from my childhood are the best, because I have seen them so many times. But really any movie that I enjoy will work. I, sometimes, will do this with television shows as well. The best ones are the television shows that have that one extra movie, because I can incorporate the new items in the movie, and then follow it through with the television show ti indicate progression.

For example, the 1995 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series with Jason, Trini, Kimberly, Tommy, Zach, and Billy are the best parts of my childhood because it was one of the rare things that I shared with my brother. I absolutely adored Tommy, but always felt that he and Kimberly had something special. I never understood why they couldn’t tell their family who they were, or even Ernie, the guy who worked at the Youth Center. It would have made their lives so much easier, if they had the “civilian” connection to assist with their disappearing acts. Thus, my first story was born. I wrote a short story about Ernie having a niece that befriended the Rangers, dated Billy, and came up with plausible excuses as to why the teenagers were missing during each violent encounter.

Another, even longer, example was Harry Potter. I have never liked how Harry was treated by his Aunt and Uncle, and I found it hard to accept that Hermione’s muggle parents wouldn’t have assisted him in some way. So I added an older sister for Hermione, who worked for the British government because she knew all about the Wizarding World. The Grangers would have adopted Harry from the Dursleys, and the sister would have trained Hermione and Harry in self-defense. I, then, added that Voldemort would have attacked Hermione’s home, but this sister had a contingency plan in place to save as many people as possible. This is a story that I have developed for many years now. Every other night, I think of a new way to “introduce” Hermione’s sister.

I never published any of these works for many reasons. One, I never knew that such a thing like fanfiction existed until I was in my teens. Two, I was busy with school and getting my life together. Three, I never thought that my writings were any good, so I never pursued anything with them. Now, as an adult, I have an amazing significant other, who supports me daily to write and create. He encourages me to save everything that I write, so that I can always review it and either re-write it or publish it.

Each night I write down in a notebook some new scene or character for whatever television show, movie, or book that I am reading. It takes a lot of confidence and some passivity to show those vulnerable parts of yourself. It is a feeling that I am slowly coming to terms with. These writings have been my saving grace throughout my life, and I welcome anyone and everyone to experience what truly helps me feel better as a person.