Hi everyone! I'm not sure where to start so I guess we'll get right into it.
Let me introduce you to the paracosm. A paracosm is a "detailed, imaginary world created inside one's mind." These worlds take all shapes and forms and vary wildly from person to person. Paracosms are usually created in childhood or adolescence and maintained for a significant period of time, being months, years, or even a lifetime.
People develop paracosms for a variety of purposes. Some occur as a coping method after a trauma, others are simply a more advanced and expensive version of an imaginary friend. The creation of a paracosm, or "worldplay," is considered by some to be a manifestation of creativity and intellect, and indeed, several famous authors are known to have been paracosmists. These include the Bronte sisters, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and several others.
I've recently begun research on the topic, having maintained a paracosm of my own for several years and having abandoned the practice a few years ago in order to focus on my real life. I spent a great deal of time believing I was not right in the head, or that I was the only person who had a world in their mind. That fear kept me from ever seeking out other paracosmists, and as such I'm only learning about how common the practice really is. I didn't even know there was a definition for what I was going through until a few weeks ago.
It feels really important that we start having a conversation about this, that we reach out to each other and explore this together. There are no networks or communities that I can find for paracosmists as of now.
So, do you now/did you ever have a paracosm? Please consider answering a few of the questions below, because I would really appreciate hearing from you and I'm sure there are others who would love to hear from you too.
Additionally, if you happen to have any resources, I would appreciate the contribution. Perhaps we can get a list of links going up here for people to read.
Discussion Questions
Spoiler
1. Do you now/ did you ever have a paracosm?
2. If you no longer maintain your paracosm, why did you stop?
3. About what age were you when you began worldplay? About what age were you when you stopped, if you have?
4. Was there a triggering event that caused you to start a paracosm, or was it just something you always sort of did?
5. What is/was your paracosm like? Did it have a name? What was the setting like, and who were the characters? Was there a storyline? Please share whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
6. Were you an active player in your paracosm, or were you a passive observer on what the characters there did? If you were active, what were you like there?
7. Did you ever tell anyone about your paracosm? How do you feel about having one? i.e., was it a big secret that you were guilty about, or were you open about sharing it with others?
8. Did you create your paracosm alone, or with siblings/ close friends?
9. How did you play in your world, (by writing, by daydreaming, at night before you fell asleep, etc.)
10. Were you ever deluded as to the reality of your paracosm, (believed it was a real place you traveled, delusions of godhood, etc.)
11. Has your paracosm played an important role in your creative life? How?
12. Did you know about paracosms before now? How did you learn about them?
13. Did you/do you know anyone else who has/had a paracosm? How did you meet? How did you end up sharing information about your paracosms?
2. If you no longer maintain your paracosm, why did you stop?
3. About what age were you when you began worldplay? About what age were you when you stopped, if you have?
4. Was there a triggering event that caused you to start a paracosm, or was it just something you always sort of did?
5. What is/was your paracosm like? Did it have a name? What was the setting like, and who were the characters? Was there a storyline? Please share whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
6. Were you an active player in your paracosm, or were you a passive observer on what the characters there did? If you were active, what were you like there?
7. Did you ever tell anyone about your paracosm? How do you feel about having one? i.e., was it a big secret that you were guilty about, or were you open about sharing it with others?
8. Did you create your paracosm alone, or with siblings/ close friends?
9. How did you play in your world, (by writing, by daydreaming, at night before you fell asleep, etc.)
10. Were you ever deluded as to the reality of your paracosm, (believed it was a real place you traveled, delusions of godhood, etc.)
11. Has your paracosm played an important role in your creative life? How?
12. Did you know about paracosms before now? How did you learn about them?
13. Did you/do you know anyone else who has/had a paracosm? How did you meet? How did you end up sharing information about your paracosms?
Resources:
Spoiler
Paracosm on Wikipedia, (I know, Wiki isn't a "real" source, but it's a good starting place for casual researchers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracosm
"Glimpses of Day-Dreamland," an early account of paracosms created by future writers.
https://books.google.com/books?id=-J0rA ... &q&f=false
"Origins, Authority, and Imaginary Games," discusses the role paracosms play in the creative process.
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarl ... 11E84.html
"Identity, Inclination, and Imaginary Games," a response to the above essay.
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarl ... height=80%
"The Islanders," another mapping of authors' paracosms.
http://search.proquest.com/docview/304877294
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paracosm
"Glimpses of Day-Dreamland," an early account of paracosms created by future writers.
https://books.google.com/books?id=-J0rA ... &q&f=false
"Origins, Authority, and Imaginary Games," discusses the role paracosms play in the creative process.
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarl ... 11E84.html
"Identity, Inclination, and Imaginary Games," a response to the above essay.
http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarl ... height=80%
"The Islanders," another mapping of authors' paracosms.
http://search.proquest.com/docview/304877294
Bronte-specific resources:
Spoiler
Thank you for your kind attention and possible contributions. I have wanted to discuss this for a long time and have only recently had the courage to do so.