The Importance of Fiction: Why Stories Matter

As a kid, I used to always ask my parents, when looking at somewhat realistic movies, whether they were based on true stories or not. When the answer was yes, it would always add to the thrill, make the story seem more striking and important. Real people had lived those things. Real events were presented.

Somehow, part of me believed that fiction was merely entertainment, a way to escape reality. 'Fake' stories were fun and fascinating; but they were not really useful, were they?

Despite years of working on fantasy novels of my own, it's only been recently that the realization dawned upon me. Fictional stories also carry a powerful importance.

Jordan Peterson (a renown and somewhat controversial psychologist, but don't we just love controversies!) said, in one of his lectures, that stories are actually distilled truth. Who would want to film their own lives, then replay whole days at normal speed, trying to convince themselves it's fascinating? Wouldn't that just seem excessive and boring, even for the most eventful lives?

Stories are selected scenes of characters and their lives -fictional or not. Together, those scenes convey a narrative through both representative scenes and turning points. In a way, the 'important parts' are shown, so we can follow the journey and have a global perspective as we tag along. We get to enter the reality of the protagonists. We see them at their lowest. And hopefully, we see them climb back up to triumph too as they grow through their arcs. We see those characters learn and, if they are relatable enough, we can learn alongside them.

When a story is engaging, its readers are invested. They are captured into the world that is presented and, if the story is powerfully woven, the journey can be transformative. it can encourage. Embolden. Make readers reconsider, question, or simply give them the hope they have been longing for. Skillful storytelling not only allows one to freely travel other realms, it opens minds and change lives.

What do other authors say?

Stories have always been an important part of human cultures. Be it through oral tradition or on old scrolls dug out by archeologists, some tales 'as old as time' have always inspired us, shaped our societies, formed our inspirations. Mythologies, folk tales, fairy tales; we can all easily think of a few.

Writers, amongst others, continue to perpetuate this practice. They tell stories. And through the voices of invented characters, fiction authors speak things that mere direct lines can sometimes not express on their own. They provide context to principles that they believe should be proclaimed from rooftops, when those rooftops are too slippery to climb. They present aspects of reality that might be too hard to face otherwise, making them approachable.

For example, a friend recently landed me A Fault in our Stars, by John Green. (I did not actually finish it yet. Sorry to all the fans out there who could not put the book down, I was just not in the right mood to read something so... well, you know if you know). As I opened it, before the story even began, I could read a note from the author, part of which went as follows:

This book is a work of fiction. I made it up.

Nether novels nor their readers benefit from attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea that made-up stories can matter.

Fiction is not mean to be seen as competing with reality. It's supposed to enrich it.

Now, moving on even further from our tangible reality and entering a whole new genre, J. R. R. Tolkien presents fantasy as a ''human right'', for '' we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.''

Writing and creating, then, soars up to an expression of our very nature, as we are made in God's image, and He is a creative God, who loves beauty..

Jesus Himself used stories to convey truths; most of His teaching, in the Gospels, was in the form of parables relatable to people.

Now, of course, I can't talk about various authors and neglect to talk about my most recent read, Skyward, from Brandon Sanderson (favourite author biais here, I know). I could honestly quote all of Chapter 45 and it would all be relevant, but since this space is limited (and there are copy rights!), I will only share with you this one part (though please, go read the whole book. It's worth it!).

The main character, Spensa, is looking for guidance and talking to her grandmother, who raised her on stories of heroes of old. But then, the young woman, desperately needing the truth, wants to know if those heroes had truly existed. I just loved her grandmother's reply:

People need stories, child. They bring us hope, and that hope is real. If that's the case, then what does it matter whether the people in them actually lived?

And isn't this true? Isn't that the very purpose of stories? To convey hope, to share beliefs that matter, and, despite of, perhaps because of a broken humanity, weave narratives that can connect with the heart of our listeners?

Inspiring through not only what has been, but what could be. Creating realities.

Ideas are powerful.

So dream on, my friends, and this story inside of you, may you use it to build up those along your way!

Until next time,

Vannah