“The purpose of a storyteller is not to tell you how to think, but to give you questions to think upon.”

Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings

I don’t so much have an essay about this week’s quote, as a “look behind the curtain” into my writing process. This quote from The Way of Kings really speaks to me, as it aptly describes a general tenet I follow when writing.

While story is always at the top of mind when I’m drafting, I also seek to tackle some tough issues in my tales. To name just a few: questionable means to achieve a just end (e.g., killing to further the Uprising’s cause); reconciling the fact that a good person can do bad things (Deliritous being a slave owner); fundamental disagreements with someone you love (to avoid spoilers, a certain relationship Baz has). 

While I write about these issues, I don’t necessarily give definitive answers. Some might call that a cop-out, but I think that’s the point of stories. I’m not here to tell you how to think. Rather, I aim to flag some issues and get you thinking, all while spinning a yarn that entertains.

Most people don’t want to be preached at, but many (and often, I find, fantasy readers in particular) want to be challenged. As I’ve said before, one of the great things about fantasy is it makes challenging topics approachable by filtering them through a lens of make-believe. 

Read the stories you like, ponder their meanings, and form your own opinions. Don’t let others think for you.

Note to readers: Each week, I share a fantasy quote and indulge my inner philosopher with a brief essay based on said quote. Share your favorite quote with me and I might feature it in a future newsletter! Email: dtkane@dtkane.com.