Why Stories are Important Now

I try not to doom scroll.

I try not to just bury my head in the sand with endless dumb videos.

But sometimes I need to. Sometimes the stress of the world gets to be too much and I have to take a break. I read a fiction book or watch a movie/TV show. Anything to take my mind off reality.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the purpose of story. How can a story help the world? How can a story help the individual? Storytelling is one of the oldest means of communication we have. They convey the emotions and perceptions of others.

People tell stories to remember history. What happened on what day and with who. Great history writers can make you feel like you are witnessing monumental moments, like the Civil War or the Berlin Wall coming down. The sensory images the writer can evoke or the insight into someone’s mind connects us to the world.

Not just history either. As a teenager, I was swept away to exotic locations like Sardinia and South Africa in my fiction books. I read stories about humans on other planets and magical worlds. Many were allegories for our “real” world.

Who gets to tell stories is important too. Right now, book bans are raging and libraries are targets. Publishing is elusive for many, particularly if you don’t speak English or live in a first world country. Self-publishing exists, but many books are overlooked because they are indie. Not to mention the money it takes paying for editors and book covers to compete, which many don’t have.

I’m grateful for the libraries in my area and have been going more often this year. I’m reading a lot more and trying to read widely. I try my best with my indie stories, but utilizing my critique group and studying cover art to make something good. Plus, I still submit traditionally to find new readers and get more experience. I’m not playing it safe with my reading or my writing. Who knows what the future may look like in publishing? Better to put out the work that matters to you.

All this is to say that stories are important for connection. And right now, we need connection more than ever. In some ways, society is more fractured. Social media was supposed to bring us closer, but sometimes, all I see is divide. Reading, however, can bring us together. Tell me your story, in your own words. We have shared something personal. We have shared a truth (even if that truth is a fiction story).

Stories matter now. Of course, there will always be those who don’t want to hear your (or my) story. They will clap their hands over their ears and shout to drown you out. But that doesn’t mean you should stop writing, or reading, or telling others. If you read something remarkable, tell someone. Share it. Look for connection.

What I’m reading right now: Just finished Fourth Wing. Not my favorite so far this year, but some parts were good. I figured I should read it because the series might be a TV show in the future. I like to read the books to compare to the shows. Also, I just checked out The Fraud by Zadie Smith and The Book of Love by Kelly Link. Been wanting to read these for over a year and found them at the library.

What I’m watching: Just finished the season finale for both Foundation and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Loved both of these shows. Can’t wait for the next seasons, although it will probably be over a year (!) before they are back. I tell myself to be patient, but it sucks I have to wait so long. If you’ve been on the fence about trying them out, I would give them a thumbs up.

We’re living through a tough time right now folks. Keep trying to connect. Keep writing and reading.