How useful are the words we write? Do we expect the fictional words we write to be helpful to our readers?
I fully understand part of our job (maybe the primary job) is to provide entertainment. In fiction, many times, that includes helping our reader escape from their current circumstances. When I was growing up, this was one of my primary reasons for reading. It wasn't that my life was that difficult but I found books to be a safe place to which I could escape. Providing that safe place can be pivotal in a young person's life.
As writers we want to challenge our readers not only with a rich vocabulary and dynamite worldbuilding. We want to challenge their ideas, how they perceive their place in the real world and stretch them beyond their comfort zones. Lofty goals? Perhaps.
If our stories don't serve a useful purpose, do we still call it a success? Do we write with a specific purpose in mind? I'm not talking about lecturing the reader but engaging them fully in life. Please share your thoughts.
I don't think an author can deliberately add meaningful lessons to a story. They have to be inherent to the situation and characters and stem from the author's passions and cares. At least, that's how I hope it works. Whenever I try to "deal with" or "do" anything, it falls flat.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, Ben. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ben.
ReplyDeleteYes, the book might teach the reader something, or they might miss the lesson altogether.
At the same time, the readers can pick up something in the book that the writer never thought of.
It's not really our place to say...
:-)
Appreciate your thoughts, Misha.
ReplyDelete