Telling stories is in our blood. We tell stories because we are social, and our daily narratives explain life. Stories are necessary for our survival, social order, understanding, and entertainment. That’s why when a speaker tells a story, we bend our ears. We listen more carefully and remember longer. The story is sacred.
But when a professional writer tells a story, the tales become even grander. The days are brighter, the tears more frequent, and the laughs more jaunty.
That’s because writers play tricks with our brains. They push and prod. They work the corners of our imagination, make us think harder, and see clearer.
They pay attention to details, tease us with symbols, and mock our preconceptions. Writers pull from the past, explain the present and predict the future. They make connections, and when they are done, we enjoy a permanent record reflecting the times in which their stories are written.
