The Power of Story

Some Sunday mornings, when our pastor goes all militant theologian on me, tossing out eight-syllable word grenades like I should know what they mean, I tend to zone out. But when he throws in a story...wham! I'm leaning forward in the pew, listening like a preschooler at library time, wondering how it's going to end.

What's up with that?

Story, that's what. Stories make our ears perk up, engaging us to a depth that resonates deeply in our brains. Something to do with neural coupling and all that (whatever that is). The bottom line is a story, broken down into it's basic elements, is a connection of cause and effect--and that is how we think. (If you'd like more detail than my simple analysis, check out Lifehacker's Science of Storytelling post here.)

Story is the most powerful way to disperse truth. Jesus knew that, hence his use of parables. When I write a novel, I have an underlying, Biblical truth that I try to get across to the reader without being too obvious. In UNDERCURRENT, it's sacrifice and forgiveness. Okay, so that's two, but you can't have one without the other.

So, novelists, next time you sit down to map out a new story, don't spend all your time figuring out your characters and plot. Be intentional about what truth you want to impart to your reader and weave it into your character's personalities and into the storyline. Engaging a reader with truth via the medium of story will leave a lasting impression...and if it's a Biblical truth, an everlasting impression.