A timely guest post on connection and destiny by Georgetown writer McKenzie Rentie.
I’ve recently become engrossed in the Korean concept of In-Yun. I learned of this idea via A24’s recent zine of the same name, In-Yun, headed by debut film director Celine Song of Past Lives. Members will recall that we recently chatted about Past Lives in our cinema-inspired December Leap Out meeting–if you missed it, enjoy the recording!
A24’s zine, In-Yun
Song describes In-Yun as a form of connection and destiny.
In Western culture, rhetoric surrounding the idea of destiny is shaped around a pursual. Eastern philosophy, on the other hand, describes destiny as something that Song says “simply walks through the door.” She adds, “It’s about the way the universe puts two people in the same space and time, against all odds, whether they like it or not.''
In-Yun has the connotation and usage of both the profound and the casual, and writers can refer to it for the mundane and the otherworldly.
Guided Writing: In-Yun as Connection and Destiny
To begin, look inward and take this moment to journal for yourself about the spaces, people, and objects in which you’ve found In-Yun. These moments or encounters may have felt layered without your pursual of more, and they may have been either mundane or otherworldly. If you don’t think you’ve encountered or experienced In-Yun at all, in what ways do you hope to cultivate it? Write for 3-7 minutes.
Take a breather. One deep breath in. One deep breath out. One more in. And one more out.
Next, write a scene in which one of your characters experiences In-Yun. Consider your character’s surroundings and how In-Yun presents itself to them. Does the experience/encounter present itself as a happening of everyday life, or is it a life-altering event? Is your character seeking their destiny, or is In-yun happening against their will? Write for 7-20 minutes.
Lastly, consider In-Yun’s connective qualities. What is In-Yun drawing your character toward, and what is it pushing your character away from? Maybe In-Yun connects your character to a vital friend or family member, or even an enemy! Perhaps your character is drawn to a specific environment or set of ideals. Whatever the case may be, write for 6-10 minutes.
Take another breath and thank yourself for taking the time to consider In-Yun’s impacts on yourself and your characters. Stay warm, and happy writing!
Want more guided writing? Members have access to more guided writing via the members-only blog. Just one of the many perks of being a Blue Stone!
MCKENZIE RENTIE is a blue stone and fellow creative writer. She currently works as an intern copy editor for Love, Bekah. Her passion for literature and the arts brought her to Southwestern University, where she is pursuing a degree in English. McKenzie will continue to cultivate her love for storytelling regardless of genre.