Photo by Andrew Measham on Unsplash
I’m posting a short piece tonight because I’m recovering from being sick (nothing major, but I’m a bit run down).
A story’s main message is the cause-and-effect statement that a writer sends through the action the protagonist takes in the story’s climax (cause) and the story’s resolution (effect).
Here an example from The Tale of Peter Rabbit: We survive when we are willing to take a risk to escape a villain.
This message is an assertion or an argument, not the objective truth. The story is evidence for the argument, and the reader can decide for themselves.
Stories are very persuasive because they put us in an almost hypnotic state, what I call the narrative dream. We sometimes accept the assertion without evidence so long as it resonates with us on some level.
As writers we’re responsible for the messages in the stories we write and share. As readers, it’s useful to consider the messages we’re receiving in the stories we read.
This post is part of a 75-day writing challenge and experiment. From September 9 through November 22, I'll be posting daily thoughts on writing, storytelling, and creativity based on recent readings or reflections. While my intention was to keep them very short—250 to 400 words—I've found that this range doesn't give me enough space to cover these topics adequately. I aim to keep them brief enough to be read quickly, but they will often be longer than 400 words.
At the end of the challenge, I will organize and revise the material with intention. For now, the object is to explore and share.