Why is it that some of the best fun in reading occurs when a character makes a mistake, a cringeworthy, “oh, dude!” sort of moment? As long as it’s plausible, a misstep always draws me in. Is it more than mere schadenfreude, the pleasure in someone else’s misfortune? I believe there’s a deeper, primal pull, perhaps one that goes to the very heart of why we’re wired to love stories.
Just as lore was passed down about animal migrations, the proper sacrifices before a hunt, and the right moon phase for planting and harvesting, I think stories had a place in ensuring man’s survival—not just to emphasize perseverance against all odds, loyalty, and toughness, but also to help with socialization. In a time when being cast out of the group often meant death, stories were critical, helping teach people to navigate the power structures and family dynamics, without having to make as many mistakes on their own and learning the hard way.
Even in ancient times, I’ll bet people reveled in the hero and heroine defying convention in ways they wish they could have done, and found lessons in the consequences the characters reaped. So of course, we love the villain getting her comeuppance, and the downtrodden finally triumphant, and prefer to read about the flawed rather than the imperfect: it gives us hope that, despite our own flaws, we can triumph.
Stories still have the ability today to affect attitudes and empower. Though my romances in The Helios Series are light, fun reads, they still have something to say about bigotry, sexism, and the abuse of power, things that are still relevant as the world changes.
What do you think needs a story?
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