How Stories Work

I want you to read stories that horrify you. I want you to read stories that will shock you. I want you to read stories that unashamedly make you weep on the bus home. I want you to read stories that you could never imagine falling in love with, but you do anyway.

I want you to read stories by authors that you’ve never heard of. I want you to go flipping through the world of books, and find the stories that reach up out of nothing to grab you. I want you to read books that make you want to scourge the injustice of the world with ash and fire; I want you to read books that make you want to stand in front of the weak and defenseless, aegis in hand, and demand Not on My Watch.

I want to see the spark in your eyes at the moment a story takes hold, the moment that a protagonist wins you over to their cause. I want to hear your roaring cheer echo through a silent house at 4 AM because the character you’re cheering for has just slain her monster. I want your pillow to be heavy with tears during her dark night of the soul.

I want you to read stories written by authors whose names you can’t pronounce, who have lived universes you cannot fathom. I want you to read stories by people of every gender, not just the two you’re familiar with. I want you to read ideal, naive stories written by ideal, naive children; I want you to read stories by withered souls giving their last benediction — or malediction, as the case might be — to the world.

I want you to read stories about lovelorn teenagers, and sparkly vampires, and the worst goddamn fanfiction you’ve ever seen. I want you to read stories written by a hack with a Harvard degree; I want you to read stories written by a monk who’s spent decades in high hermitage.

I want you to read books that you know will hurt you, and I want you to never regret reading them. I want you to read stories about children dying from cancer and children dying from suicide, and the mothers and fathers and siblings and lovers and friends that are dying to save them. I want you to read stories that flay your heart open, and I want you to sit there, heart open, and let others see.

I want you to read stories that fill you with light of understanding, with an airy joy that surpasses all knowledge. I want you to read stories that kindle the delirium tremens, those that kindle the the mysterium tremendum et fascinans and those that kindle every type of shiver in between.

I want you to read stories that fill you with the love of God, with the love of Humanity, and with love that you can’t quite identify. I want you to read stories that fill you with love for worms and stars and the inner hearts of trees, and everything great and small in this world.

I want you to read stories that make you hate Evil and Injustice, that awaken a Righteous Rage within your bones. I want you to read stories that raise you up into a stronger person. I want you to read stories that burn you down and build somebody new and better out of the ashes.

I want you to read, that you might experience a million lives and more. I want you to read, to know that you are not alone in feeling what you feel.

I want you to read, that you may love this world and this life with everything you have.

I want you to read.

Zach J. Payne is, to borrow the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, “a polymath, a pain in the ass, a massive Payne”. He is a thespian, poet, and writer for young adults. He is the #2 Ninja Writer. Follow along on his adventure, and receive his Query Letter, Deconstructed.