There's a great forum called TEDWeekends, designed so that people you'd probably love to have the opportunity to sit down and talk with can share "a powerful idea worth spreading." I just watched the TED talk from Frank Warren, the founder of Postsecret.com
In his presentation, he talks about the meaning of secrets, why we are so fascinated by them, and gives many examples of the ones he's received - almost always sent to him anonymously - throughout the years.
(photos courtesy of Frank Warren)
Of course, it's a larger topic in general and a compelling one in everyday life. But I admit I also thought immediately of how many secrets there are to be found in fanfiction: how many plots revolve around or include them; how many characters feel they have to hide or divulge them; even down to how authors & reviewers write online under a pen name.
Three of my favorite quotes to think about from his presentation:
"Sometimes when we think we are keeping a secret, that secret is actually keeping us."
"There are two kinds of secrets, the ones we hide from others, and those we keep from ourselves."
"Secrets can be transformative: Sharing a secret with another person, or just with ourselves, can change who we are."
I know how powerful and moving discovering a secret can feel, whether it's when I see or hear someone else's, or even when I read a character's secret in ff. And the emotions when telling one are so often complex and overwhelming. So I was wondering:
Would you ever send an anonymous postcard to a stranger with your secret on it? Would you post your secret anonymously on a website like his? Would you intentionally incorporate any of your own secrets into your fanfiction story so you could finally 'tell' it?