“Stories matter.”
When googling an image for a Game of Thrones quote, “stories matter” is a different [and non-Game-of-Thrones] quote that popped up. It’s applicable too, compelling.
I think that’s what drives (all? most?) storytellers. And I think it’s the reminder that storytellers need to keep going. Especially at the point of economic difficulties and essential activities, we need that reassurance that what we’re doing matters. I’ve seen those reminders throughout this pandemic in many a post, so this isn’t something new and big and profound I’m mentioning; it’s just another reminder to hopefully hit the feed or inbox at just the right moment for an artist who needs it.
I just finished Game of Thrones – I know, wayyyy too late, but I was waiting for the final season to release so I could buy the full series set, and then I was waiting for the full series set to be on sale because I wasn’t ready to spend $200. You either understand, or you’re a Game of Thrones afficionado that now thinks I’m wayy behind the times and have my priorities out of whack, which, fair 😛 I’m usually the person that watches a show much later than everyone else, and I still haven’t figured out why, it just…happens…
I love complex plots and twists and worlds full of characters with depth and themes and foreshadowing and nuance… and of course GoT didn’t disappoint. It brought to mind the power of story, and then of course Tyrion Lannister really came through with the quote above in the final moments to drive it home and bring some sort of semblance of cohesiveness to my thoughts on the show. (Just a semblance though.)
And it must have really been time to fill up on this inspiration, because I stumbled across this other quote in a book I was reading:
Stories are the only thing in this world that are real. Everything else is just a dream.
Then She Was Gone, by Lisa Jewell (affiliate link, I may receive a portion of sales from this link)
So now you ask, when is Amy gonna take all this inspiration and bundle it into all that writing to get that circus story of hers across the finish line? Or, if I had been keeping you in the loop the past year you may have asked that, but by now you’ve probably forgotten. And the answer is, now. I’m easing back into things after a lot.
And I hope whether you’re in a season of rest or a season of creating (or both), these quotes remind you that you can always come back when the time is right. Stories are always there for you, whether to binge and stream, or to string together in the imagination, or to share between friends & family. And all of that matters, whichever one is “your thing” right now. Turn on Netflix, call up a friend, cozy up with a book and chai, or get that pen and paper ready – it all matters, it’s all interconnected, because it’s all story.