The Power of Story, Part II by Annette M. Irby

The phrase "Once upon a time" written on paper.*

Like we discussed last month in Part I, story is powerful. Have you ever watched a movie, then left the theater feeling changed (for better or for worse)? I recall experiences of leaving theaters and feeling oddly disconnected from reality as if I couldn’t readjust, which isn’t preferable if the movie has few redeeming qualities. Stories can change us. They hook us emotionally and help us rethink our paradigms, perhaps toward confirmation. Perhaps away.  

We writers can use story as a tool, but here are some cautions: 

* Avoiding absolute statements: Life isn’t red or green. Life is purple or blue or orange. We learn this the longer we live. Does that mean there isn’t a difference between right and wrong? Of course not. But the purple-ness of life shows us mortals that we were never meant to serve in God’s place as judge. Who knows everything? If you use absolute statements, you risk many things. You may make yourself look foolish. You may offend others. (Of course you may offend others anyway. Even Jesus, the sinless One, offended people.) You may later learn you were wrong about that absolute statement. Then what? We can’t always go back and change them. We have a responsibility, and ideally we’ll walk out that duty with humility. Helpful hint: find a relatable element in the message you want to convey and leverage that in your story. Find the universal theme and watch how using it can help readers connect and even open themselves to seeing your deeper themes and purpose. 

* Avoiding preachiness: Raise your hand if you’ve closed a novel when an author started preaching. That approach to story (and I’m not necessarily talking about a scene that contains a sermon) can be heavy-handed and unappealing. Many editors flag those elements in a novel and request rewrites. Why? Because fiction isn’t non-fiction, and preachiness has no place in entertainment. 

* Avoiding full explanations (resist the urge to explain/RUE) (which may stem from a motivation to control). Instead, let readers draw their own conclusions. Readers are smart. Plus, what speaks to one reader may not speak to the next. Let him or her take what they will from your words. Give up control. Jesus didn’t explain every parable, in fact He rarely explained any. But when the disciples asked Him to, he did. (See the story of the leaven of the Pharisees.) Best to let God work through the story as He wants to rather than strive for a certain outcome. There’s beautiful humility in creating our product (novel) and then handing that creation to God to do with as He wills. 

You have a reason for writing your novel—a message. But handling that message takes finesse and caution. I recommend finding critique partners with whom you can share your vision for your book, and who will be honest in how your attempts are coming across in the story itself. Sometimes our passion for a certain theme can come across as preachy or controlling (those absolute statements again), whether in the novel or through our social media presence. It’s in those moments that we might step back and consider the power of words and the innate power of story and proceed with caution.

Your turn: Have you read a book (non-fiction or fiction) that changed your mind? Did the author use a certain technique that you now use in your own writing? What ways have you found to get your message across in a palatable way? 

Write on, friends!

 

~~~~~ 

Husband Material by Annette M. Irby

Wyatt Hansen has no fears about commitment, but only three years have passed since his beloved wife died, and he can't bring himself to break their annual dinner date—that is until he meets restaurant owner, Lara Farr. Lara doesn't have time for romance; she has a business to run. At least that's what she tells herself so she doesn't have to admit that commitment scares her. But Lara's business is failing, and it just may take a miracle—or marketing analyst, Wyatt Hansen—to save it. Can Wyatt rescue Lara’s restaurant, help her overcome her fears, and prove he is good husband material?

~~~~~

Annette M. Irby

Annette M. Irby is a freelance editor and Christian fiction author who dabbles in gardening and photography. She has completely fallen in love with her grandson. She enjoys spending time with her family and husband of over twenty-five years. You can learn more about Annette by visiting her website or her page here on Seriously Write. 

* photo credit: the awesome people at Pixabay

The Power of Story, Part I by Annette M. Irby

open book coming to life*

There’s a new series on TV. If I named it, I’m sure many of you have heard of it and/or watched every single episode. ;) The story centers around a family and is a drama, so though there are funny moments, the characters’ struggles are heartfelt and sometimes, intense. This series gets to viewers’ hearts. Anyone who has suffered disappointments, betrayal, loss, grief, pain will relate, perhaps especially folks older than thirty-five. The writing doesn’t withhold “punches,” as it were. From everything I’ve heard, the episodes make viewers cry, make viewers feel. Deeply. You don’t know you’re being affected until it hits you. Then, you’re sobbing. Undone. The storytellers have accessed a deep part of you—buried hurts, memories. Fears. Stuff you thought was dealt with. And it takes you by surprise. The heaviness could be depressing, except the depicted seasons (perhaps) are well behind you. You survived.

Let’s explore a few of the ways story is powerful:

Story impacts us. We find we aren’t alone.   

 

Story changes us. We learn how to cope or that we can hold on to hope. 

Story gains access. Story gets past the walls and gates of our minds and hearts and enters the inner chambers—our private thoughts and feelings. And because story has the power to do that, it changes us.

Story moves us, emotionally and/or motivationally. Sometimes we are motivated to act based on a story we’ve seen or read.

Story convicts us. Jesus’s parables did this.

Story guides us. Morals from kids’ storybooks can guide us as adults, help us make decisions and/or see the people around us through a moral lens.  

Interrupted stories can anger us. How do you feel about these three words: To Be Continued…

Stories make us think. Ever read a novel that presented a situation contrary to your morals, but you long for the characters to do the immoral thing—like kill someone out of revenge? Or take the romance to the next level?—simply because you’re caught up in the story? (I’m not talking anything beyond PG here, but you get the idea.) Why do those thoughts cross our minds? What motivates that?

When you’re watching such a show or reading such a novel, do you analyze your thoughts? As writers, we should, I think. Because we can use those lessons for good.

The prophet Nathan did this. He told King David a story that made David feel anger toward an injustice, made him relate, motivated him toward justice—to want a certain outcome. All from the power of story. And when the story’s façade was removed, and the core revealed, David saw himself in the story. Then, conviction could do its work. Story was a tool in the prophet’s hands, or voice, in this case.

Jesus used story (parables) to reach hearts and teach lessons and help people understand His ways. Story is a tool. Next time, I'll share some cautions around using story as a tool. See you the first Monday in March with Part II. 

Your turn.

Until then, share your thoughts. Why do you think we enjoy stories more when they move us (emotionally or motivationally)? Have you read or watched any very moving stories lately? What do you think it is about those storytellers’ techniques that makes their stories affect us the way they do? Let’s learn from each other. 

~~~~~ 

Husband Material by Annette M. Irby

Wyatt Hansen has no fears about commitment, but only three years have passed since his beloved wife died, and he can't bring himself to break their annual dinner date—that is until he meets restaurant owner, Lara Farr. Lara doesn't have time for romance; she has a business to run. At least that's what she tells herself so she doesn't have to admit that commitment scares her. But Lara's business is failing, and it just may take a miracle—or marketing analyst, Wyatt Hansen—to save it. Can Wyatt rescue Lara’s restaurant, help her overcome her fears, and prove he is good husband material?

~~~~~

Annette M. Irby

Annette M. Irby is a freelance editor and Christian fiction author who dabbles in gardening and photography. She has completely fallen in love with her grandson. She enjoys spending time with her family and husband of over twenty-five years. You can learn more about Annette by visiting her website or her page here on Seriously Write. 

*photo credit: the awesomely creative people at Pixabay

The Power of Story by Heidi Chiavaroli

Heidi Chiavaroli

Story is powerful.

I’m not the only one claiming this fact. Now, science is backing up the assertion that story has the ability to change the way we think, to change the way we even act.

At a writer’s retreat a couple years back, I listened to an inspiring presentation by author Tessa Afshar, in which she spoke of the incredible power of story. As I tried to pull together this blog post, I berated myself for not taking notes. Lucky for me a search online brought up a 2012 New York Times article by Annie Murphy Paul, in which she explores Your Brain On Fiction.

“The brain, it seems, does not make much of a distinction between reading about an experience and encountering it in real life; in each case, the same neurological regions are stimulated,” Paul writes.

When we read of metaphors, textures, and scents imparted to us in rich words, the same places of our brain that are stimulated when actually experiencing these things are roused when we read them. 

A powerful story can even go beyond this. The same way the brain responds to smells and textures as if we were truly experiencing them, so the brain also responds to a character’s heartaches, happiness, and frustrations as if they are our own. We can learn from make-believe characters. We can become more empathetic to those around us. We can hone our social skills simply by picking up a book.

Wow. Great news for those of us who already love a good story.

As I read this scientific evidence, I thought of the Master Storyteller. Many times, Jesus taught with a story. The Parable of the Lost Sheep certainly has a deeper impact on His listeners than if Jesus simply said, “God loves the lost with a passion you can’t imagine.”

Instead, we can see ourselves in that story—alone and afraid, and yes, as a sheep! It doesn’t matter. God made His point in this story and many others, as well as in His entire Word—one huge, beautiful story of His love for us.

So I don’t know about you, but next time I’m wrapped up in a good novel I won’t feel quite so guilty about the laundry not getting done. After all, I’m not just reading. I’m improving my social skills. I’m relishing a creation. I’m becoming a more empathetic person.          

And who can argue with the power behind that?

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Heidi Chiavaroli writes History Woven in Grace. She is a wife, mother, disciple, and grace-clinger. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and has finaled in the Genesis contest and My Book Therapy’s Frasier contest.