So we're taking a smol pause in the colorful and crazy blogoversary bash for a short post about something a little more serious.
Once upon a time, my Bible study leader said something to me that I never forgot. It wasn't during one of her lessons, and it wasn't during a deep discussion. It was almost more of a passing comment, but it stuck in my brain and has never left ...
![Stories Are Remembered [header image]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-m03YifUoXvWvqevx1BJTs_WwhR7iOZllGg9hEFu7qzvVJj_lIf2xP2KOyHUOk1l6KnENmKEeY0iToaNoJ6KOlhmmCPzizE0dWOc3d2Ad6NwxjzlEXb1jj7uv36bHQLifbgE4gipHbFw/s1600/storiesareremembered.jpg)
I'd helped teach one of the lessons for her Bible study one day, and I'd used a passage from a story to illustrate one of my points. The next week, when we were discussing how it had gone, she mentioned that she liked how I'd used the story. She said that even if people went home and forgot what the lesson was about, they'd probably remember the story, because people remember stories.
People remember stories.
And we, as writers, have the power to write those stories. We have that power in our fingers, in our brains, in the ideas that we come up with in the middle of the night. We can write things that will touch people - things that they will remember.
Think of some of your favorites books and series. The ones that made you sit in awed silence after you finished them, because you have to process what you just read. Are you going to remember that book? Obviously. And we can write stories like this! Stories that people will have swimming in their head long after they finish them, stories that will lodge into people's hearts and probably never leave. Stories that can mean something.
That's what I want to do.
I want to write a story with deep messages and strong characters and worlds that are both beautiful and broken. I want to write a story that will touch people that I may never get to meet. A story that brings hope. I want to write a story that will be remembered. But more than that, I want to write a story that is worth being remembered.
I don't know how long it will take me to meet that goal. Maybe my whole life. But I'm going to keep trying, because I want to write a story that's worth being remembered. Because this world needs more stories that are worth being remembered.
What about you?
~ Savannah Grace
what about you?
This is one of those posts that I have few words to. You're so right, and this is so true and just AGH. Thank you for sharing and empowering us <3
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, girl. <3 <3 This post has kinda been 'in the making' for awhile - and it's something I've wanted to SAY for awhile - so I'm glad it came our right xD.
DeleteYES!!! AMEN. Writing a story that's worth being remembered is so important. I wish you luck on your journey. You'll do great things! <3
ReplyDelete~Ivie
iviewrites.blogspot.com
Thank you so much, Ivie - and I wish you luck on your journey as well! <3
DeleteWoah. This is powerful, girl. I'm inspired. I think a lot of us forget the magnitude our words carry, the stories we tell. We may think it's just cool sounding, but how it affects others goes farther than that. I never want to forget the fact that once I pick up a pen or sit down to type, I wield the power to either shed Christ's light or shed void words. Thanks for posting <3<3
ReplyDelete"I think a lot of us forget the magnitude our words carry" - exactly. Our words are actually POWERFUL, and that means we do have some responsibility in our writing. Thank YOU for commenting, Jasmine <3.
DeleteThis has been something that has been on my heart recently. It's nice to see it put into words. Stories are remembered, and it can be really easy to forget how powerful words are. I don't want to take that power for granted. :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously? That's so epic, because its been on mine quite a bit, too. *highfive* It's kind of strange to think that we, as writers, have 'power' ... but honestly, we do. Words are strange and slippery, but they MEAN things, and we can either us that for good or bad. So let's us it for good xD. Thanks for commenting, Evangeline! <3
DeleteYes. Let's write the stories that will be remembered.
ReplyDeleteAgreed in full. <3
DeleteI LOVE THIS SO, SO MUCH, SAVANNAH. it's so true and it's what the world needs, so it makes me so happy to have others stepping up to write stories worth remember. <3
ReplyDeleteYou said this in a passing comment on the end, but I loved it: "I don't know how long it will take me to meet that goal. Maybe my whole life." It's an encouraging and discouraging sentence. XD Because publishing and writing is a crazy time-consuming journey... but yet how blessed are we that we have our whole life ahead of us?? We're not like Olympians, where if they don't complete their dream by age seventeen, they're doomed. :P
Love this. And happy blogoversary, girl. <3
katie grace
a writer's faith
ACK, THANK YOU SO MUCH, KATIE. There are so so many writers out there who are INCREDIBLE, and have the potential to write incredible stories, and I want to remind that that their words are powerful and NOT TO GIVE UP. I think everyone need to hear that now and then.
DeleteIsn't it? I kind of had to stare at that sentence after I wrote it and think 'whoa ... that's actually true. It COULD take me my whole life'. xD BUT WE'LL KEEP TRYING, YEAH? We've got this, no matter how long it takes *fistbump*.
Thanks, fren. <3 <3 <3
THIS IS AWESOME. Like that's all I can say. :)
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU, NABILA. <3 <3
DeleteI so agree! Stories are the most powerful methods of remembering things. I read a ton of story-based history books for school and like it helped me remember the events way better than just reading a dull textbook. 😂 So I do think stories are so so important and really good to remember!! My goal is to write a book that impacts someone someday and is remembered. <3
ReplyDelete"I read a ton of story-based history books for school and like it helped me remember the events way better than just reading a dull textbook." OH MY, SAME. Why can't we recall this much info from textbooks? School would be so much easier xD.
DeleteThanks for commenting, Cait! <3
So true!! One of the main reasons I write is to touch people with the hope of Jesus Christ. <3
ReplyDelete- Lilly Shyree (alillyingodsgarden.blogspot.com)
That's the best reason to be writing. <3
DeleteThis is beautiful. Stories that bring hope – that's what I want. <3
ReplyDeleteStories that bring hope are the best kind of stories. <3
DeleteArgh yes. <3 *hugs you and this post* This is my goal. <3 <3
ReplyDelete*hugs you back* Same here, friend. We're gonna make it <3.
DeleteThis post is an inspiration. Whenever I don't feel like writing, or get discouraged about my writing, I'm going to pull up this post and read it through. It makes me want to write something worth being remembered. Hope and memory: those are two very, very important things to hold on to. Thank you for posting, Savannah!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Grace <3. Your comment made me smile ;).
DeleteThis is seriously the most beautiful post. As storytellers, this is what we all strive for. Thank you for this <3
ReplyDeleteaudrey caylin
Thank you so much, Audrey - and you're welcome! ;)
DeleteYES. SO. MUCH. YES.
ReplyDeleteThis, this right here is what I want. I want to reach out to people, to make them feel, to shine a light. I want my words to be remembered. Yes. *huggles post forever* ^_^
I'M SO GLAD YOU AGREE <3. Stories are one of the best ways to reach out to people, and I think we kind of underestimate that. I'm glad you liked this post, my friend! <3
DeleteYou nailed it, Savannah! I've often thought that's exactly why Jesus taught in parables so often--because people remember and connect with stories in ways that a lecture or sermon can't.
ReplyDeleteLet's go write those stories worth remembering! <3
Thank you so much, Tracey! <3 And yes, I definitely agree - sometimes people just need a story ;).
DeleteTHIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL, SAVANNAH. <3
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU SO MUCH, EMILY <3 <3.
DeleteYes! People always remember the stories we tell. May we write stories worth remembering.
ReplyDelete"May we write stories worth remember" <--- Probably one of the best goals we can have. <3
DeleteYes! With all my heart.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you agree, Jenelle. <3
DeleteYESSSS. THIS. SO MUCH THIS!!! Stories are power, and they ARE remembered. Most sermons I hear that stick tend to be the ones centered around a Bible story. Pretty much any history I know is from a historical fiction I've read, much more so than the history textbooks I used for school. Stories MAKE us remember. Just because a story may be called "fiction" doesn't mean it's not making a REAL impact with its words.
ReplyDeleteStories are one of the most powerful things in the world. And I definitely want to create stories that are remembered!
This post was so beautiful. Thank you for sharing! <3