It's generally agreed, when our ancestors left
Africa to populate the rest of the world they were driven by concerns of climate and population growth. I believe
another reason needs to be considered--curiosity.
The innate curiosity of our species has been
responsible for every advance, development, discovery you might consider. Have
you heard the story about Isaac Newton poking himself in the eye with a needle?
He did it as a scientific experiment. I'd say that's carrying curiosity to the
extreme. Still, without curiosity, there can be no driving force.
Curiosity
is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.
Samuel Johnson
Curiosity is immensely important to writers, too. It
fires our imagination, makes us ask--what if?.. Come on, admit it, you're as
nosey as me. All writers eaves-drop. Well, we do, don't we? I know I've got my
fill of story ideas and other useful details that way.
We
have seen that central among the traits that define a creative person are two
somewhat opposed tendencies: a great deal of curiosity and openness on the one
hand, and an almost obsessive perseverance on the other. Both of these have to
be present for a person to have fresh ideas and then to make them prevail. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi,
Creativity
All children come with curiosity. They want to
touch, taste, smell, eat every little thing they can grab in their sticky
little fingers. They're also trying to understand this world they've been born
into. Asking questions: Why am I here? What am I supposed to do here? Why is
that geek making faces and speaking gibberish to me?
It's all part of the learning process--the
importance of which doesn't diminish with age.
For many adults, curiosity begins to dim in the wake
of other, more worldly concerns. For writers, it's important for us to preserve
our sense of curiosity, even enhance it if we can.
I'm not suggesting you turn yourself in a Miss
Marple. But, if something sparks your interest, chase it and see where it may lead
you.
Fascinating observations, John. Always a treat to visit your blogs. (when I am not minding someone else's business ha ha).
ReplyDeleteHah. Like the admission. Thanks for commenting, Margaret.
DeleteI think you're right, John. We always wonder what's over the next hill. And - what happens if I poke at this?
ReplyDeleteRight you are. Thanks for stopping by, Dac.
DeleteGreat post, John! I've also learned that people who talk on cell phones tend to speak more loudly and sometimes you learn interesting things, and other times you hear things that you wish you hadn't. : )
ReplyDeleteHah. Been there, done that, too, Marja. Thanks.
DeleteGreat blog, John. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but I'll bet he died satisfied. What's over that next hill? I feel sorry for the folks I've met who never asked, never looked into the night sky and wondered.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are those people. Thanks, Larry.
DeleteI enjoyed this. If you have a character in your story or book who's any sort of sleuth, they'll need that curiosity.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed. Thanks for commenting Linda. Glad you enjoyed the read.
DeleteNo one has any idea how curious (nosy) I am! And I've made my sleuth just as nosy, and a writer to boot.
ReplyDeleteHah!Love it, Maggie. Thanks.
DeleteMy curiousity is a little bit obsessive. However, the need to follow leads has worked well in my former life as a narcotics secretary and now as a writer. I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING.
ReplyDeleteI guess I could blame mine on my newspaper career, too. But, like you, I want to know everything. Thanks, Sunny.
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ReplyDelete