“We're all stories, in the end.”
―
Steven Moffat
When I was
nine years old, I wanted to be a professional story-teller when I grew up. I
imagined myself going to preschools, libraries, and bookstores telling my
dynamic and captivating stories to people of all ages. Everyone would be so
entertained. Then I learned that oral story-telling isn’t actually a
profession, at least not since the ancient days of Homer. But I was young and
hopeful. If I couldn’t tell stories for a living, then I could write them. So,
I started my first novel, which I finished eight years later when I was
seventeen. Is it good? Of course not, it’s pretty awful, but it’s still very
dear to me, and I plan on going back to it someday.
I have
loved stories since I was a child. I loved when my mom made up a story about a
leaf being scared for its life when her car was coming at it, so she swerved to
miss it and hit a bush (true story). I love when my dad’s family gets together
and all laugh talking about how they would they would tie up the second
youngest of their brothers and put him in a rabbit cage (the youngest was a baby,
so they couldn’t mess with him as much). I love that this story becomes more
elaborate every time they tell it. All of a sudden, they were chasing him with
a hose, because he wouldn’t take a shower. At another telling, he runs into the
house, finds a bat, and hides behind the door to protect himself. As I got
older, and have been growing as a more experienced writer, I’ve loved my own
stories, too – the ones written and the ones that only exist in my memory.
In Bobette
Buster’s little book, How to tell your
story so the world listens, she explains, “Stories possess a spark, a
power: to comfort, connect, destroy, transform - even to heal” (pg. 9). I think
it’s interesting that the past hundred years have been about “new” – new innovations,
new technology, new ways of thinking, new roles for men and women. Yet, stories
are the oldest things we possess. Our continued interest in listening to
stories and desire to tell them is something still central to our existence than any “new”
discovery of our time. It’s the way we connect to each other, learn, grow,
heal, and what expresses our humanity more than anything else.
The story
has many functions, and comes in many forms. It’s something told, something
read, something painted, something watched. When we think of stories, though,
the most common thing we think of are books. A friend and I started a book club
last year, and because of school and work obligations, it’s often hard for our
members to attend. So, I’ve been recruiting coworkers. But of course, I’m met
with the most tragic phrase I know, “I don’t like to read.” Do they not have an
imagination? I’m pretty sure there’s something wrong with anyone who doesn’t
like to read, but then again, I’m a book lover. As Stephen King said in his
book On Writing, “books are a
uniquely portable magic.” If you don’t read, then you miss out on an
opportunity to do magic.
On the flip
side of reading a story is writing one. Writing is not for everyone, but
everyone can do it. It’s the best and easiest way to let others know your
story, your personal one, or the one you made up in your head. If you have a
story that you want others to know about, or one that is important to you, then
write it down. It can bring healing and change to yourself and others. I know
people who hate to write, because they don’t like grammar. Let me make
something clear: you don’t need good grammar to write; you need to know good grammar to
be a good writer (the great writers know how to break all the rules properly). If you’re not trying to be a good writer, then just write
whatever is in your head. No one has to read it, but you. Stephen King also
some advice on this topic, “The object of fiction isn't grammatical correctness
but to make the reader welcome and then tell a story... to make him/her forget,
whenever possible, that he/she is reading a story at all.” Just tell a story,
and let an editor worry about the rest.
Have you
ever wondered why we get so into a good book and feel emotionally connected to
the characters? Or why watching a movie can be such a moving experience? In BBC’s
iWonder, Alex Winters gives us some answers while focusing on the benefits of
reading books to children. He says, “Researchers have found that the brain
activity that occurs when we read fiction is very similar to experiencing that
situation in real life, so reading about a situation helps children work out
how to solve it in reality.” He goes on to explain that children who are read
to regularly are better at understanding and empathizing with others. They
understand that other people think and feel differently than them.
Dr. Keith
Oatley, Ph.D. adds, “Just as computer simulations help us get to grips with
complex problems like flying a plane or forecasting the weather, so novels,
stories and dramas help us understand the complexities of social life.” We use
stories to understand, learn, and deal with problems. Good stories take us
through an event as if we were really there experiencing it. In the Harvard Business Review, Paul J. Zak writes that he discovered when we watch a character-driven story, the brain releases
oxytocin, which motivates our cooperation with others and enhances empathy. In
other words, the reason we feel so connected with the characters in a movie or
book is because our brain is releasing a signal that says we should care about
these fictional people (sometimes real people).
Stories
push us to connect, and can also motivate us to act, which is why Steve Denning
argues that story-telling is the only effective tool leadership can use to
inspire change. If you’ve ever watched a presentation about why you should
support a cause, donate to a certain charity, or be persuaded to join
something, you’ll know that statistics and facts alone are not good motivators.
There is no emotional connection to a number. But when you hear a story about
someone else’s struggles, then you’ll feel more inspired to do something. Zak’s
research found that when people listen to a story, the more oxytocin their
brains release, the more they were willing to help others.
Not just
any story will create change – only good ones. Zak discovered something that
any decent writer should know about story-telling: all good stories have
conflict. Like one of my professors would tell our class, “You have to put your
character in a tree and throw rocks at him.” Zak found that in order for a
story to motivate the desire to help others, it has to first grab people’s
attention by having some kind of tension. This tension will likely cause
listeners or viewers to share and mimic the emotions and behaviors of the
characters. This is why my best friend thought she was a bad*** after binging
through a few seasons of Sons of Anarchy.
She started cussing a lot more, and even wanted to get violent sometimes. It was
pretty entertaining considering she’s known for her quiet and sweet demeanor. She
eventually had to stop watching the show.
In Buster’s
short book, she says, “What all great stories have in common is a journey whose
conclusion appears uncertain. They are full of hope. And they are about
courage. The tragic ones are about someone who did not have the courage to do
something they had to do, or who took the coward's way out” (pg. 93). Stories
are meant to create something inside of us. Our brain shows this is true, and
so does history and culture. It’s why Jesus taught in parables. It’s why
fairy-tales were used to caution children about different dangers. It’s why
people in AA meetings go to listen and share their experiences. It’s also the
reason why we respond to stories with other stories. For example, when you
listen to your friend tell you about a struggle, you may often tell them about
a similar struggle of your own or of someone else you know. Stories are how we
connect and live, and they are the most fundamental part of the human
existence.
Sources:
How to tell your story so the world listens. by Bobette Buster
On Writing by Stephen King
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