How fiction changes everything

There’s something special in the way fiction opens the brain to draw its own conclusions and make new connections, while nonfiction—although certainly having its place—presents facts but rarely offers the opportunity for expansive thinking as fiction can.

That’s not to underestimate the importance of nonfiction.  Facts are useful, but facts change.  And facts aren’t always… well, fact, are they? Opinion can be debated but cannot be proven… facts are hard information that can be proven or disproven.  In other words, facts can be false. 

When fiction resonates, however, it catches us some place deep within our hearts and psyche… that place where we know truth, not as a fact, but as a place of understanding and peace.  Because fiction does not claim to be anything other than what it is, it has the ability to touch us in this place more profoundly than the factual nature of nonfiction, which busies itself with telling us rather than inspiring our intuitive side.  Perhaps this is why memoirs, or creative non-fiction, have become so popular.  They take life and weave it into a story that encompasses all of the best parts of fiction… all those parts that touch us on the places we so desperately need stirred in this fast-paced world where facts (whether true or false) are readily available.

Whether in myself, or with my children, I can feel how stories weave new unimaginable thought patterns.  There’s something special in the way fiction opens the brain to draw its own conclusions and make new connections.

As my friend and fellow Mind Key Member, Grace ngDung said while discussing the merits of an evening spent watching Harry Potter movies, “It’s funny, during this period [of my life] I was thinking that  nonfiction is actually applicable and more relevant [than fiction], but that was my logical, left brained shadow talking.  [While watching Harry Potter] I was reminded of how powerful and potent stories and art really are.”

It was during this same conversation that I told her, “I realized I don’t really want to write nonfiction anymore because fiction is far more powerful motivator and inspiration for creativity and insight.”

And it’s true.  Although my work in the nonfiction realm of health is essential in many ways, it’s my work writing Mind Key the Novel that is more powerful and profound.

Does fiction parallel life, then?

I don’t know… Perhaps it is more accurate to say that fiction is life.

What are your thoughts?  And what works of fiction have stirred or moved you?