Crafting the Tapestry of Human Experience
In the end, we are all the same: messy, complex biological organisms just trying to survive, perpetuate our species, and—what else? Oh yeah—shape, define, and cultivate purpose.
Stories are our most effective tool for exploring the higher purpose of human existence, but only when the story is genuine, fresh, and . . . well, good.
In today’s culture of quantity over quality, it can be difficult to find a good story. But what is a good story? What separates the canned background noise from the stories that stick, that matter, that help us figure out what the human experience is all about?
I argue that there are three most important elements to a good story: character development, originality, and intellectual and emotional stimulation.
Yes, while other elements are important—dialogue, a complex plot, etc.—these three elements are the backbone of a story that touches us.
Character development: Central to any compelling story is the journey of its characters. Character development is not merely about crafting protagonists with heroic traits; it's about transformation, evolution, and depth. It’s about the growth of Edmond Dantes from the naive boy wanting to serve, to the scheming machiavellian intent on vengeance, to the wise man he ultimately became. Characters that experience opposition and develop because of it are relatable, interesting, and inspiring.
Originality: This one’s simple. Stories should be familiar in that they use the same patterns and story arcs we all know. But they should then have some original elements that make them unique. Take, for example, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings. All the same story—but different. And all very successful.
Intellectual and Emotional Stimulation: A good story should feed the mind and the heart. Not just one or the other. It should spark conversation, touch you in some way, glue you to your seat with tension and suspense. It should have some substance other than too much CGI. Any story that feeds neither the mind nor the heart can at most be mildly entertaining.
Ultimately, at the core of human experience is the desire to—well, experience. To connect. To develop, explore, and discover. That’s why we all love a good story. In the words of Neil Gaiman, "Stories you read when you're the right age never quite leave you. You may forget who wrote them or what the story was called. Sometimes you'll forget precisely what happened, but if a story touches you, it will stay with you, haunting the places in your mind that you rarely ever visit."