To Believe Beyond Sight: Speculative Fiction and Imagination as Keystones

[liondrakes]

“What is your keystone? How has it impacted your life?”
 

As of lately, I realized I have two keystones: speculative fiction and imagination. These concepts do more than intersect with each other. In order to tell a suitable story in its medium, the former is very reliant upon on the latter. This isn't to say realism is devoid of imagination; after all, all creations require some degree of imagination. However, it is the overt grandiosity of one's imagination which defines speculative fiction as a medium. Speculative fiction encompasses all genres that escape the confines of realism: fantasy, horror, science fiction, alternate history, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, weird fiction, and so much more. As a concept, it exists as an outlet for every "What if?" we have had in this world. It dares people to envision a world where the fantastical is possible. Shortly after attending the Conceptfolk panel at Othercon 2025, I shared this about speculative fiction as a keystone:
 

“The concept of speculative fiction exists as my keystone because nothing resonates more with me than the desire to see a world rich with larger-than-life circumstances. Speculative fiction is rich with exactly that: worlds beyond the one we know and are a part of, giving audiences a window into what lies beyond their concept of 'normality'.”
 

That leaves the conceptual nature of imagination. Imagination is described as “the production of sensations, feelings and thoughts informing oneself”. Furthermore, imagination “can be re-creations of past experiences, such as vivid memories with imagined changes, or completely invented and possibly fantastic scenes.” It's a natural occurrence that varies in detail, but ultimately, it's a concept that I've followed closely before I started unpacking my alterhumanity. As a keystone, I conceptualize imagination as the latter half of its definition. Creating impossibly possible stories intrigued me, so I involved myself in the practice. I consider my imagination to be fundamental in my development as an individual, particularly my background in the arts and how I've made connections with other people. One could say I've been a highly imaginative person since childhood, hence my attachment to this concept.

However, I think I latched onto this concept because of my passion for fiction. I enjoy reading nonfiction nowadays, and there was a time when realistic fiction caught my attention. That said, I've always had a clear preference for speculative fiction. This preference soon became more than an outlet for my imagination. Invested in this sort of literature, I took up creative writing when I was in the second grade. I furthered that interest in the seventh grade by writing prose poetry in my spare time. I also wrote manuscripts for novels that I'd never continue or would scrap completely, but failing to produce a full story never deterred me from writing. As one would expect, it didn't take long to find my niche. Fantasy and supernatural fiction dominated my interests at the time, and they're still my go-to genres when I write a story. To poke and prod at what your imagination conjures up is one thing, but choosing to put forth belief into it and make it tangible through art is an experience that words alone can’t capture. The vision you’re trying to convey is what does the talking. I spent my childhood trying to hone this craft, and I’m now old enough to understand how it has shaped me.

Much of my life has revolved around these keystones. I've never had one without the other. The challenge of imagining a world hidden within or unlike this one motivates me to create, whereas speculative fiction is the medium where I can fully exercise my passion. By exploring conceptuality in my alterhumanity, these keystones carry significant depth beyond what I experience as a member of this community. How I carry myself is because of these concepts. The reason why I write is because of these concepts. And on the subject of being, the very baseline of my species is because of these concepts as well. I dare to dream and identify within stories beyond my reach, and if I was asked to trace the roots that led me here, those roots would arrive at these concepts. My lifelong passion for speculative fiction and the storytelling it provides is why I am fantasy incarnate, whereas I have my relationship with imagination to thank for my position as both character and storyteller.

Sometimes, I wonder what my life would've been like if I didn't develop such a fondness for my stories and the imaginary worlds within them. I wonder what I would've been like if I didn't care to believe beyond sight, to find wonder in the things we can't or haven't seen. I suppose I'll never know, but I am grateful to have experienced this for as long as I have.