Subversive as a lifestyle. First off...

Subversive as a lifestyle.

First off, let me say that the dictionary definition of 'Subversive' is a bit misleading given today's nomenclature. Let's take a look at it:

sub·ver·sive   [suhb-vur-siv]
adjective
1.
Also, sub·ver·sion·ar·y  [suhb-vur-zhuh-ner-ee, -shuh-] Show IPA. tending to subvert or advocating subversion, especially in an attempt to overthrow or cause the destruction of an established or legally constituted government.
noun
2.
a person who adopts subversive principles or policies.

Pretty cut and dry, right? Of course not.

Subversion is an idea, a concept of shaking up the status quo. It's a method by which to virally infect society with something that changes it. It can be something as small as a meme or as large as a revolutionary ideal. Writers, artists and musicians for thousands of years have been persecuted or praised for their subversive techniques (usually persecuted).

Howard Bloom, the brilliant sociologist, calls this 'Diversity Generators'. In an ordered society, the majority of the masses are 'Conformity Enforcers', people who follow the trends and police radical thought to maintain order. They, we, do this usually unconsciously. Diversity Generators propose changes to change up the order of things and make fresh something that was never before (or at least hasn't been for a time) popular or accepted.

So how does this all relate to the craft of writing? Well, so far as I have experienced, writing very rarely proposes a new idea. Many times a story is a rehash of many different experiences thrown together in an order that is hopefully pleasing and ideally new. Sometimes you hit paydirt, sometimes you falter.

I could have written another vampire book. Probably had a good run with it too. I would have conformed to the current trend and profited off of it. But truth be told? I'm sick of them. I would compromise myself too much to tool my creativity to be marketable.

So what's the answer? Infect, infect, infect.

I want my writing to be a virus. I want to inject myself and what words I spin into the world of literature. If just one person reads my book and lets themselves be a little bit more open to the idea of reality being more than just what we experience when we're awake? I've done my job and then some.