A reader lives a thousand lives, as the saying goes. But story telling goes deeper than that. One of the books that hit me the hardest in my journey to become a writer was Storyteller, by Leslie Marmon Silko.Throughout the book, in the guise of a traditional Storyteller, Silko wears many masks and voices to tell several different kinds of stories – each with their own voice, moral, and often a punchline or two as well. I still sometimes randomly remember the outhouse chuckle to myself. Sometimes a reader really does live a thousand lives, absorbing the voices of a thousand storytellers – each story leaving a mark that lasts a lifetime of its own. The stories and marks I have absorbed over the years have expanded my awareness of the world, given me empathy for topics I hadn’t even known existed before, and inspired me to take up new hobbies in the real world.

Sometimes a reader really does live a thousand lives, absorbing the voices of a thousand storytellers – each story leaving a mark that lasts a lifetime of its own.

Every individual has a limited range of experience whether we live in a tiny town where no one is a stranger, or a gigantic city where everyone is.No matter your favorite genre, good authors always provide new experiences. Sometimes its as small as a food you’ve never heard of, and as soon as you try it you have a new favorite for the rest of your life. Sometimes its the plight of an oppressed people, the struggle of a minority that doesn’t get discussed enough, or histories that powerful people did their best to bury or ignore. That’s precisely why authors are often advised to write what we know.

Sometimes picking up new hobbies is also a benefit. You might read a fantasy book where a food sounds so delicious you have to learn how to make it yourself, or go further and find yourself at a Renaissance Fair or Fantasy Ball having the time of your life. I’ve had a blast looking at my workouts as a training for a big quest. No matter where inspiration strikes, don’t be afraid to actually go out and do the things in life that bring you joy.

Marks and Scars

Reading through a thousand lives can accumulate a lot of marks. Sometimes they are marks of inspiration, sometimes they are damn near traumatic. I still have Throne of Glass flashbacks all the time. Most readers will agree that all of it is worth it. Sometimes for the escapism, sometimes for inspiration and motivation to improve the real world. If your favorite FMC can do it out of stubbornness, why can’t you? As a story teller, what we hope is that the marks we leave are marks of improvement. Even the marks that look like scars. You know what you did, Maas.