Preaching to the Choir–Making a Case for Reading
By Vaughn Roycroft | June 26, 2023 |
I was recently invited to speak at an event called Author! Author! It was held in the newly remodeled and rejuvenated library at a nearby community center. The session seemed to strike a resonant chord, so I thought I’d share my speech with my fellow WUers, in the hopes of extending the good vibes.
Why the Fantasy Nerd?
You might be wondering why a fantasy nerd like me is here talking to you today. I guess the most obvious reason is that I live nearby and I recently released my debut—an epic fantasy story which is the first installment of a trilogy.
When Lorraine [the center’s director] first invited me, we discussed how I might talk about the inspirations for my books and my writing journey. And since my books are inspired by actual history—specifically the history of the culture clash between the Goths and the Romans—I thought: “That’s great! I can talk about Goths and Romans for hours.”
Please don’t worry. And please, nobody leave. As delighted as I’m sure you would be to listen to an ancient history lecture, I’m going to spare you that outcome. Which brings me to…
What I’d Really Like to Talk About:
Although the topic I chose isn’t history, it is something that’s central to my inspiration and to my writing journey. It has to do with a discovery I made about myself many years ago. At a fairly young age, I discovered I have an ability. It’s something for which we all have potential, although it takes practice to make it a part of our routine. I believe it’s worth the effort. Regularly using this ability has documented health benefits, and I believe it makes our lives richer. I also believe that the more widespread it becomes, the better off our world will be.
Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?
So what is this mysterious ability? It’s the ability to immerse ourselves in fictional stories. Now you might be wondering why would I bother to spend my allotted time talking about immersion in fiction. After all, at an event called “Author, Author,” there’s bound to be an element of preaching to the choir, right? That may be true, but if you can’t get the choir to spread the good word, who can you get? Honestly, I believe it’s a critical issue, and one that is terribly underdiscussed. I’ve come to believe that we should be talking about it wherever and whenever we can. And I believe that’s true now more than ever.
It might sound dramatic to say now more than ever, but… well… Do any of you get those weekly notifications on your phones? Mine come on Sunday mornings. My phone tells me whether my screen-time is up or down. Are you like me?—when it says, “Your screen-time was down 16% in the past week,” do you feel just a little smug about it? I do. That is until I open my iPad and it says: “Your screen-time was up by 16%.”
Anyway, my point is that we need immersion in fiction now more than ever because of how daunting it’s becoming to achieve it. Look, I’m as guilty as anyone. It can be tough to get there. As we’ve become more and more entangled with screens and life online, finding the time—and the mental space—for immersion in books has become more and more difficult. Because, let’s face it—reading takes some focus. Reading deeply—in other words, finding immersion—takes an even deeper focus. Having a distracted mind can make it feel almost impossible.
While we’re at it, let’s face up to the root causes, too. It can’t be denied that those who bring us products with screens, and those who make websites and platforms and apps—well, they want us to remain distracted. The longer we stay that way, the more money they make. They’re profiting from our distraction.
Which means it’s not going to get any easier for us. I’m not just talking about literacy, or interest in the written word, or publishing sales trends. I’m talking about a lifestyle that embraces books and revels in storytelling on the page. The passion that can fuel such a lifestyle still exists, but I’m afraid I feel like it’s an endangered species.
So let’s talk about why longform fiction is vital to society, and—I feel—worthy of our effort to try to save it from extinction.
In order to do that I’m going to touch on…
A Smidgen of Science
Again—no need to worry. It’s not a history lecture, and it’s also not a science lecture.
I’d like to tell you about a writing teacher I know—a scientist named Lisa Cron. Lisa has a theory that we human beings are wired for story. In fact, she wrote a book with that very title: Wired for Story. Lisa’s theory in a nutshell (hopefully a nutshell that wouldn’t upset her if she were here) is that we—homo sapiens—have adapted and thrived due to a build-in feature in our brains. To put it in the simplest of terms, going back to prehistoric times, the telling of stories and the passion for hearing them led to our success as a species. When ancient storytellers at the campfire told of the dangers of—say—sabretooth tigers, and the listeners were able to put themselves in the shoes … or maybe the furry sandals, of the heroes who encountered tigers and survived, it was due to the love of story that our forebearers then avoided the tigers’ hunting grounds. Natural selection ensued. Those who were inclined to an empathetic embrace of story were more adept at survival. Hence, an essential genome was created.
That’s a ridiculous oversimplification. See? I told you this wouldn’t be a science lecture.
Nevertheless, I think that Lisa’s theory can serve as a starting point in explaining why stories are so entangled with our emotions. The more emotional the impact, the better the immersion, and the more popular the story. Think of your own favorite stories. What do they have in common? Likely, they engage you in an emotional way. Whether it’s through laughter or tears, or being roused and rooting for something, our favorites stir our emotions and leave us moved. They can even leave us feeling changed. Stories can make us feel empowered or wiser, or more hopeful, or even purged of our negative emotions, like sadness or grief.
As you can imagine, those purveyors of scrolling and distraction that I mentioned earlier—well, they know this too. They also know that some of the fastest and most direct emotional appeals—the sort that most effectively grab and hold us—are those that evoke outrage, anger, and resentment. And then there’s the big one—the one that fuels all of those other base emotions: They love to evoke fear.
Our foes in this escalating struggle—those who profit from our distraction—they’re selling us quick, easily-digested, and oh-so-addictive emotional bytes, and they’re packaging what they’re selling as story. They’re doing this because we’re wired for story, and they know it.
How Do We Fight Back?
My answer to the question, as you’ve probably surmised, is through reading and the promotion of longform fiction.
If you don’t mind, I’d like to tell you a bit more about how finding my ability to immerse myself in story inspired me to write. My writing journey started when my 6th Grade teacher gave me a copy of The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien.
I don’t use the phrase lightly when I say I was enchanted. Now I grew up in a household of readers, surrounded by lots of books. I’d always loved books and reading, but what happened with The Hobbit was something wholly different than I’d ever experienced. I was transported to another world, and I couldn’t get enough of it. My parents noticed the change in me when I started to choose reading over TV. For the first time, I began to read every chance I got.
What happened next was nothing short of lifechanging. My teacher—a first year elementary school teacher, mind you—out of his own pocket, bought me a boxed set of The Lord of the Rings. He probably did it as much to keep me occupied as to provide an educational experience. Still, reading the series and discussing it with him formed the foundation for my writing journey.
But Tolkien and my 6th grade teacher provided me with more than inspiration for my own books. The Lord of the Rings transported me to a place that gave me the space to look back and perceive our world in a new and different light. In Middle Earth I saw man’s relationship with nature redefined. I was shown as never before the importance of love, friendship, loyalty, and perseverance. I was shown the value of mercy and sacrifice. I wasn’t just transported by the experience, I was transformed by it.
Perhaps even more importantly, I was left wanting more.
I know that my life has been more meaningful and that my understanding of my fellow humans has been expanded by reading longform fiction.
Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to offer you just…
A Tad Bit More Science:
Did you know that forming a habit of reading fiction offers documented benefits to your health? It’s true! Scientific studies have shown that “narrative absorption” – which is just a sciencey way of saying reading immersion – is not only a measurably pleasurable experience, it also enhances our sense of wellbeing. Not to mention the studies showing that it fosters empathy.
Neuroimaging studies show that readers who are dwelling in the fictive trance are stimulating activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. The studies reveal that we gain an enhanced perspective in comprehending social context. In other words, there is a strong correlation between reading fiction and surmising what others are thinking and why. Which can only promote more beneficial outcomes in group interaction.
In other words, reading makes societies function better. I’m thinking we could use more of that right about now.
The list doesn’t end there. Other noteworthy health benefits include:
*How reading fiction has also been shown to reduce anxiety, and to reduce the symptoms of depression.
*How those who read fiction at bedtime show improved sleep patterns, and experience deeper sleep.
*That reading as we age can help to prevent the onset of the symptoms of dementia, and has been shown to ward off Alzheimer’s.
*To top it off, scientists have even found a correlation between an ingrained reading habit and longevity. That’s right—reading can even help you to live longer.
All of that to say that…
Reading Is a Practice
We practice things in order to get better at them. These days we hear a lot about shorter attention spans. But are we even trying to change that? I said at the onset that I was going to share something that we all had inside, something that could make our lives richer, and even make our world a better place. I told you that it was something that might require some practice. I’ll admit that it does for me. Believe me, I have my fair share of reading slumps.
We give credit to books that are able to immerse us. But it takes some effort from us, too. It’s incumbent on us to seek the sort of stories that make us feel something. Evoking emotion is essential to the immersive quality of any story. We all feel things differently. So it’s on us. And it’s on us to help the others in our lives to find what moves them, to lay the groundwork so that they can strive to practice this life-enhancing ability.
Reading is like meditation. Anyone who knows anything about meditation will tell you that it takes practice. Practice is something that never ends. It’s a built-in component—a feature. We have to quiet our minds in order to step outside of ourselves.
Through the routine practice of reading fiction we resist falling prey to doomscrolling, and to fear and resentment.
By stepping outside of ourselves, and gaining immersion, we gain understanding and empathy. Through reading we learn better ways to relate to our fellow humans, which helps us to better know ourselves. It’s a practice that can bring us joy and catharsis. And even transcendence. By helping others to achieve immersion, we’re not only giving them a gift, we might just be making the world a little bit better.
We humans are wired for story, and reading can make us better. We need to foster and promote it. We need it now more than ever.
My sermon to the choir is complete. Thank you for doing your part in spreading the word.
How about you, WU? How’s your practice been lately? Avoiding the slumps? The doomscrolling? Any advice for spreading this healthy pastime?
Vaughn Roycroft’s (he/him) teacher gave him a copy of The Hobbit in the 6th grade, sparking a lifelong passion for reading and history. After college, life intervened, and Vaughn spent twenty years building a successful business. During those years, he and his wife built a getaway cottage near their favorite shoreline, in a fashion that would make the elves of Rivendell proud. After many milestone achievements, and with the mantra ‘life’s too short,’ they left their hectic lives in the business world, moved to their little cottage, and Vaughn finally returned to writing. Now he spends his days striving to finish his epic fantasy series.
What a beautiful and thoughtful speech. Books and stories enhance and save lives. I can imagine that your talk really resonated with the audience (and helped to sell a few copies of you own story) but maybe they will take your advice and become book evangelists too. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Cat — Creating more evangelical spirit for reading is my fondest goal. It seemed like the speech really spurred some fervor on the day, so hopefully that will continue. Thank you for your kind words, and for spreading the joy!
This was a great story, thank you so much for sharing your vision.
I trained for a time to help children with a specific learning disorder (dyslexia) to read. I learned about episodic memory and all the essential components of reading. Most importantly I learned that we all can be affected differently across six crucial categories that affect reading. Our brains are all a bit different—and that applies to those who read easily as well.
To help others access story, my suggestion is to feel empathy for those who struggle to read because they were born with a type of dyslexia that was either not identified, was ‘not severe enough,’ or was never supported with explicit learning needed to gain confident—and comfortable— skill.
Maybe I’d go further to say don’t just feel empathy, but tell them a story they need to hear: that it’s possible to read and they are not stupid. I’ve met a memorable handful of courageous, interesting, and stand-up adults who crumble at the mere mention of their struggle to read.
Help them find IMSLEC-accredited programs for reading. And encourage them to listen to books. With a professional’s diagnosis students and maybe adults, too(?), with reading challenges can acquire audiobooks, even for their school textbooks!!
I lived in a story where I was rewarded with grades, compliments, and awards all because I could read and write. In reality I got lucky that it was something my brain could do. It wasn’t me. It was genetics.
I’d much rather talk now about how brains different than mine make for some striking, lovable, capable individuals—whom we need. It drives me to write. If I could make it one day, I’d have a bigger way I could help.
You can tell I was inspired. The flame was lit—thank you Vaughn.
Hi Susan — That’s such an excellent addition to the conversation, that we need to extend empathy and practice patience as we seek to foster more readers along the path to immersion. I’m so delighted to have lit the flame! Thanks for the wonderful and important enhancement of the conversation. Here’s to inspiration!
I love this, Vaughn! Thank you for sharing!
Like you, I formed the reading habit early. When I was five, I was hospitalized for two months. My dad, who worked all day, would come to the hospital each evening and read to me from my favorite book, Alice In Wonderland. But he called it Mary Alice In Wonderland because that was my name. (I pretty much dropped the Alice after a Catholic school education where so many girls were named Mary that we were forced to add our middle names.) My fascination with reading grew by leaps and bounds in second grade when our teacher, Miss Purcell, read Winnie the Pooh to us, a chapter a day. From that day to this, I’ve had a book in my hand or very nearby. In fact, when I woke up at three this morning, I started a new book that I’m having trouble putting down.
All of which is to say, you are so right to spread the word about immersive reading. It’s a great gift to lose one’s self in a book and to grow from it.
Hi Mary Alice! (Sorry, couldn’t resist, lol.) This is such a beautiful gift, from a father to a daughter. It’s certainly an understandable start to a life of reading. Isn’t it funny how there’s almost always one memorable teacher that’s key to each reader’s journey? They’re so underappreciated.
Thanks so much for sharing the story of your father’s gift, and for spreading the joy!
I’m wired for writing long fantasy novels based on historical events and people. It’s a lonely job but that’s how it is. It’s my passion, and neuroimaging has certainly kept me dwelling happily in a fictive trance that enhances my sense of well being. So, I write and self-publish and contribute to the world of conscious storytelling because I’m compelled to play with words for my best life. The resulting benefits of literary meditation does everything you and Lisa proclaim it to do. Thank you for your post today. I feel part of a creatively inspired community.
Hey Veronica — “So, I write and self-publish and contribute to the world of conscious storytelling because I’m compelled to play with words for my best life.”
I’m glad that you point this out. I feel the same–I do what I do because it’s the foundation for living “my best life.” Those three words are the perfect addition to your fine comment. Thank you for sharing them.
Hi Vaughn. Your post raises many questions, but high on my list is the emphasis on emotion in what we read. So much of tech-centric work and leisure has nothing to do with actual emotional expression or emphasis. The original Twitter 140 character maximum is one example. The dominance of Marvel Comics mayhem in Hollywood is another. I contend that characters brought to life as we read a novel are in many ways among the most complex “people” we actually come to know.
But as you say, reading requires an act of will and commitment. The triumph of video complicates the process. It saps the capacity for focused attention needed to convert printed ink blots on the page into meaning. It’s no surprise that writers must now tailor their stories accordingly: short sentences in short paragraphs in short chapters. It’s no surprise how often WU contributors now rely on examples taken from film and TV.
When am I freed to do my “best reading”? When I can’t sleep, in the middle of the night. I get my Kindle off the nightstand–no need to bother my sleeping wife by turning on a lamp. I am alone in the dark with the illuminated screen. Nothing but the occasional, distant police or EMS siren competes with me and the story. For me, it’s a kind of last stand for true personal freedom.
Hey Barry — I’ve been lamenting “the triumph of video” lately as well. I’ve really been noticing how much worse I feel after spending too much time on social media, with all the flashing and flickering and switching. Settling into a book has become more soothing to me than ever before.
How perfect, that your last stand is right there on the nightstand. One of my favorite things about my Kindle is that I can read in bed without bothering my wife. That and it doesn’t flash or flicker, or switch without my bidding. Thanks for standing strong, and for doing your part for personal freedom. Happy reading!
This is nothing short of brilliant.
“Through the routine practice of reading fiction we resist falling prey to doomscrolling, and to fear and resentment.”
“Doomscrolling,” What a word!
Thank you SO much for posting this.
Hi Michael — As delighted and grateful as your praise makes me feel, I can’t take credit for “doomscrolling.” I think it was coined by someone at the Times. The folks at the Oxford Dictionary made it the word of the year a few years ago, so yeah–it’s an apt descriptor for the times.
Thanks again for your kind words. Here’s to fighting the good fight!
Love this, Vaughn. Thank you. And I am a serious , die hard reader of all things so I believe.
Ah–the purveyor of the polar opposite of what the “distraction purveyors” are pushing has weighed in. Thank you, Barbara! Your books are the perfect remedy for when my heart feels wearied by doomscrolling. Looking forward to the new release in September. (Preordered!)
Vaughn, what a wonderful speech! Preach! One way to encourage and develop the love of stories is reading aloud. We read to our kids well past the age when they were reading well on their own. The last book we read together was The Hobbit, when they were in middle school. Like you, they were enchanted by the world Tolkien created. You make such an important point about being immersed. Children do this naturally–they are wholly absorbed in play. And our work too can be like this–writing is deep work. Reading too. Making music. Working in the garden. Reading is my favorite way to relax–I don’t think it’ll ever change. And I’m very lucky to live within walking distance of my library, which is where I’m headed…
Hi Vijaya — You’ve made some excellent additions to the conversation here. Reading aloud is such a vital starting point, and something that I think can help engage new readers. Just look at the growth of audiobooks! Also, that we need that undistracted time of immersion even outside of reading. I think it’s vital to our wellbeing and health. And, yes, here’s to the libraries, and the librarians. Amen. Thanks for your support!
Stories, ahh, as good as pancakes with peanut butter. (And I’ve read stories while eating pancakes and peanut butter, so I have seen Valhalla.) Here’s to reading stories, and to writing them too. I am grateful that reading, of all kinds, is a daily pleasure for me, so I never have to force the issue.
Though I actually have an electronic reminder at 4:15pm every day to go read something, in case I’m caught up in counting salt grains or some other pressing task.
Hey Tom — Good idea! I’m going to set one, too. That 4:15 reminder can divert us from what might come of 4:20! And if that happens, we might find ourselves eating peanut butter with our fingers instead of on pancakes. Which might ruin some perfectly good books.
Sorry, my distracted mind made me go there. Thanks for always providing the smiles and laughs, as well as the wise diversions. Here’s to reading rather than counting salt grains! Or ceiling tiles or seagulls or…
Love this talk! Another big reader since childhood here, but I’m reading less this year because of a big writing project. My current reading obsession: your book!! I started it before my weekend trip and despite not usually being an epic fantasy reader, I can’t put it down! I keep remembering that lunch we had as our main characters way back when–such a great exercise. And I love seeing where it went.
Hey Natalie – Could there be any better feeling than being able to provide immersion to someone who normally finds it in other kinds of stories? That feels extra special, for sure, and I dearly hope it continues. I often think of that day in Salem, too. It was one of the most memorable writing exercises I’ve participated in.
Thanks a million for this lovely comment, for giving the book a try, and for letting me know!
Loved this. Reading a novel is a commitment of time that people seem more loathe than ever to give up. Comparing it to meditation is a great comparison. As a lifelong reader, I can only say amen to the excellence of this talk. Thanks!
Thank you, Gabriele! It means a lot coming from a fellow lifelong reader.