Why Fiction is Important

By

Tracy Shawn, M.A.

Why is fiction important? The great mythologist Joseph Campbell explains that stories give us relevance and meaning to our every day lives. A recent study at Emory university also concluded that reading a novel creates neural changes, which helps readers transport into the body of the protagonist, encouraging personal growth, compassion, and even courage.

As a storyteller, I take this responsibility very seriously. This is why I hope to be considered for a social media award for author category with the Shorty Awards. I am passionate about my craft. I write 365 days a year and am proud that my debut novel, “The Grace of Crows,” about a woman’s journey from anxiety after reconnecting with a childhood friend who has become homeless, has won three different literary awards.

Since “The Grace of Crows” was traditionally published by a small press, I was told to use social media to reach out to potential readers who would not otherwise hear about it. I have to admit that I was reluctant. Yet, interestingly, I have found that social media—especially Twitter—helps me in ways that go beyond mere self-promotion. I am able to connect with people on a global scale who face similar struggles, fears, and hopes.

These connections inspire me to keep writing. Whether I’m working on a novel, short story, or article, my intent is to produce work that will not only entertain, but to also help readers realize that they are not alone.

To quote the great American author James Baldwin, “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.”

If I am lucky enough to win in the category of author with Shorty Awards, I believe it’ll help me to connect with even more readers, who I hope will enjoy my stories and embark further into the inner-world of their own hero journeys.

Tracy Shawn, M.A. lives and writes on the Central Coast of California. Her award-winning novel, The Grace of Crows, is about how an anxiety-ridden woman finds happiness through the most unexpected of ways—and characters. If you’d like to vote for Tracy in the #author category with the Shorty Awards, please visit: http://shortyawards.com/TracyShawn