Since the election, I’ve been wondering a lot about what the next four years will look like in the writing space and publishing industry.
And while I initially felt anxiety while talking to some writer friends–many of whom write diverse books who are already worried about book bans and how that type of rhetoric may affect book sellers and library purchases–I have taken some time to sit with where we are, why I write, and chat with a larger swath of creatives I know to balance my initial panic.
And here is where I landed:
Studies have shown that readers of fiction are more empathetic.
Indeed, there is evidence suggesting that seeing or reading about another person experiencing specific emotions and events activates the same neural structures as if one was experiencing them oneself, consequently influencing empathy.
We are a complex society driven by division in recent years, meaning empathy will be imperative to finding a way forward. Now, I don’t mean we need to give oppression a pass or empathize with racist, misogynist, bigoted ideas.
Far from it.
Instead, I think those unjust ideals will need to be combated with radical empathy. The marginalized and silenced will need to be handed a megaphone.
Which means we need to hear as many voices as possible from those whose experiences have been previously unheard.
We need more stories.
So if you are someone who has….
- Always wanted to write a book, but felt you *should* be doing something practical/productive instead
- A story that won’t let you go
- Something to say
You are a perfect fit for book coaching.
Your stories deserve to be told.
All your stories.
While we need serious stories right now, we need your silly, your escapist, your on the surface frivolous stories, too.
Take one of my favorite shows, Schitt’s Creek.
While this is on the surface a fall from grace story filled with fish-out-of-water comedy tropes, it’s so much more than that. It’s a utopian society folded in (I couldn’t resist, IYKYK) the familiar silliness of a sitcom.
Talk about teaching empathy and collaboration. This show is a masterclass by simply modeling the type of society we could all be living in if we simply focused on kindness, acceptance, and caring for our neighbors.
So if you are suddenly worried that now is not the time for your story, I beg you to reconsider.
Now very much might be the very BEST time for your story.
It’s hard to predict the market, but that’s not why we write anyway, is it? I mean, yes, publishing is a goal for many of us, but the real why, the thing that brings you to the page, that wakes you in the middle of the night, that keeps you pounding away at keyboards when there are so many other things you could be doing, is so much bigger than that.
Find your why and tell your story.
The world needs your words. Now more than ever.
Because reading is what will bring us together.
I would love to help you tell your story.
Whether you’re planning your next novel, stuck in the middle, or revising, I invite you to book a free discovery call with me to see how I can best support you in reaching your story goals.
Image above by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash