Why We Write - DOING SOMETHING
I have not given up hope that 2023 may yet be the fresh start we all long for. But I’m also realistic. As we grieve the divisions and violence and suffering that cloud our world, and the Black Lives Matter movement converges on another Martin Luther King Jr. Day with no meaningful systemic change, and scientists predict ever more dire consequences for our failure to address climate change, the voice of conscience screams: Don’t just sit there – do something!
Here’s the thing: I believe that (regardless of the position of one’s derriere - that is, even if you are “just sitting there”), writing is Doing Something.
Apropos of the day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail is the perfect example for essays and other non-fiction. Poems by Maya Angelou and Amanda Gorman illustrate that truth about verse, as well.
But for those who doubt that the pen that inks fiction is also mightier than the sword, let me explain.
No, there is too much. Let me sum up. (Thank you, Inigo Montoya).
Every story has A Point. Fairy tales, historical novels, and sci fi. Weighty works by legends like Toni Morrison. Pleasant “beach reads.” Every single story.
Whether or not the author intended to relay a message, whether or not the author articulated the message to themselves in advance, whether or not the message is express or simply implied in the plot and character arcs – every story arises out of and conveys something about the author’s understanding of what it means to be human.
Sometimes the Point is to inspire our better angels. You know, as in Courage is doing the right thing even when you’re afraid. That kind of thing. Reduced to a short phrase, the Point often sounds overly-simplistic and trite, which is why communicating the idea through story is so much more effective.
Other stories give us a glimpse into the darkness that lies just below the surface, the fears that motivate the senseless cruelty we see in the headlines. Often that looks like: Everyone else has more than me; it’s time I got mine. Understanding our demons is the first step to bridging the divide, and thus, perhaps, to healing.
Still other stories serve to illustrate the uglier aspects of reality – a tee-shirt worthy Sh*t happens. These stories remind us we are not alone in experiencing disappointment, defeat, and tragedy. Sometimes it helps to remember that the world can be unkind to princes and paupers alike.
I wrote the first version of this post when I was in the middle of sharing the kid’s novel that gave this site its name: Brillig. The story follows a group of kids who fall into a magical world of dragons and warlocks, only to discover that world, too, is struggling with a pandemic, bigotry, and the consequences that befall when a society fails to address poverty. Without ever wanting to be “preachy,” all my children’s stories are written on the theory that kids’ books should incorporate the tough issues of our day. The same idea runs through my adult writing, as well.
And, to jump into a current debate raging among authors and publishers, I believe diverse perspectives should be a normal part of every story, unremarkable, avoiding tokenism, simply a mirror to the real world which is peopled by every color, gender identity, ability, sexual orientation, religious faith or lack thereof, and political philosophy. Maybe, by creating a fictional world in which all are represented, we may forge the reality we hope to see.
And so I sit here tapping away on my computer, joining my voice with others who have taken up the (metaphorical) pen as our contribution to solving the seemingly intractable problems we face. I leave it to history to decide whether my little scribblings have ever done anyone any good, but for now I will continue to make the effort, using the best tools in my toolbox (again, metaphorical – I am accident-prone, thanks to my proclivity for daydreaming, and no one ever should let me near a hacksaw or power drill).
Write On, friends!
Together we may “move past indecision to action” and “find new ways to speak for peace . . . and justice”!
Quote excerpted from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s April 4, 1967 speech “A Time to Break Silence.”
Images by: Suzy Brooks (people looking at wall with quote ); Aaron Burden (fountain pen); Jakayla Toney (BLM sign); Kevin Yudhistira Alloni (graveyard);
Janine Robinson (thumbnail image);
Project 290 (social media sharing image of MLK’s profile)
