Once I watched a movie where by the end, I cheered the hero to destroy the entire human race. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time.

why good stories are crucial open magic book

That inclination is entirely out of character with who I am and what I believe. But I had become so immersed in the false “reality” of this story that I picked up some dangerous lies that could corrupt my true reality if I let them.

Stories have great power. They can challenge the way we think—and change the way we think. This movie exaggerated all the worst parts of humanity in a situation contrived to be irredeemable, so that destruction became the only good. It didn’t acknowledge the inherent value of each individual member of our human race or that no matter how badly we have messed up, there is still hope for restoration.

More than just wasting about two hours of your life, a tragic movie like this can make you internalize the lies that you’re not worth it, that nothing can change, that it’s better to just end everything now before it gets worse. And that’s the real tragedy.

I write in defiance of those types of stories. The shelves and screens are full of darkness and falsity. I write to provide stories that are wholesome and good—stories that shine light, restore hope, and uphold truth.

I’m not writing philosophical treatises; I’m probably not even writing literary gems that will merit decades of study, but my stories matter because you matter. I want to write stories you can enjoy and also trust. I want to write stories that will entertain and bring fun, and that you can look back on and say in every way, “That was good.”

I’m a not-yet-published novelist, but one day I hope to give you many of those stories. Until then, I invite you to come on the journey with me as I explore what’s so great about fantasy. Let’s have some fun with it!

Art by Adare Elyse; original photo by Brandi Redd from Unsplash

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8 Comments

  1. Excellent comparison. I applaud you on your stand. Our world needs more people like you who stand for the truth. The darkness that has enveloped humanity like a funeral pall is trying to destroy everything that is wholesome and good. So many have bought into these lies. Perhaps with your stories you will be able to share the truth in a way others can relate and come to know the truth. I look forward to reading them.

    Carla Janes
  2. When we have mass murder in random shootings, people ask, how can this happen? What’s happening to our world? Life has been devalued–that’s what has happened. We are told we’re products of chance, here without cause or purpose. So people have accepted the heavily promoted ” …lies that you’re not worth it, that nothing can change, that it’s better to just end everything now before it gets worse.” Thank you, Adare, for standing against such lies, and for shining light, restoring hope, and upholding truth.

    Valarie Lawrence

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