I’ve made no secret of the fact that I believe Sir Terry Pratchett may have had an excellent point when he surmised that OUR species of Hominid survived, while all the others didn’t, because we were Story Telling Apes, or at least better at telling, and learning through, stories!
I’m not the only one who thinks so, “Our brains are structured to make sense of the world in the form of narratives – stories. Not only that, we are primed to believe the stories we hear.” see the re-blogged post last Thursday HERE!
I concede that there are probably other factors involved as well, but storytelling was (and hopefully still IS) a significant part of our species survival strategy.
If we cease to tell and learn from stories, then we too may become extinct because without them we will have created our very own ELE (Extinction Level Event).
“But how would the telling and listening to stories possibly result in such a catastrophic event?” I hear you ask.
It’s quite simple really.
If we cease to listen and learn from the different scenarios given to us by storytellers, we may set ourselves up for mistakes, some of them possibly fatal.
“That’s crazy!” I hear you declare.
REALLY?
Ever heard of the phrase ‘History repeating itself?
It’s often used as a warning to us, but do we listen and learn?
I don’t think so, otherwise, why do we see and hear the same excuses being used time after time as reasons for war, hatred, discrimination, bigotry and all the other negative aspects of our ‘Human’ natures and even as the reason for natural disasters like flooding, famine, etc?
No EXCUSE becomes a REASON if it’s repeated often enough!
SO – back to the WHY I am trying to help promote authors.
I am always hopeful that enough someones, somewhere, WILL learn a valuable lesson from a story they’ve heard, or read, that resonates enough to persuade them to turn away from the path we are currently taking as a species.
That story may already be written and just needs to be discovered, or, maybe it is still to be written, I don’t know.
Either way, I try to promote authors on the off chance that it is one of their stories that is the key to our survival.
“Yeah. Right. A Romance or Children’s story is going to change the world and avert destruction of an otherwise ‘intelligent’ race of beings, ha ha.”
MAYBE!
Look at the profound effect the Harry Potter Series had on the reading habits and imaginations of children, it actually encouraged them to read and play pretend (you’re a wizard / muggle) games in an age of electronic miracles and games!
Look at the effect reading Science Fiction stories had on Scientists, Doctors and NASA Engineers who have been given ideas from the stories they read as children and young adults and then went on to make those ideas REALITY!
So there you have it my fellow primates.
My secret hope is out.
If you share it, then support all the authors you can.
HOW?
Buy their books.
Read their books.
Leave Reviews for their books.
Invite those authors whose books you enjoyed to be Guests on Your Blog.
Reblog and Share authors articles you like from this and other blogs.
Spread the word to your friends and online connections / groups about their Books, Promotions, etc., and encourage them to read and leave reviews.
Don’t forget. If stories cease to exist, we may lose one of the reasons WE still exist!
Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog 
Well said, that ape! A huge round of applause from me!
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Thanks Susan 😀
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I agree completely with your logic, Chris, possibly because I share it. When I decided to write novels, I wanted them first and foremost to be incredibly gripping stories, and then to embed into them whatever wisdom I had acquired along the way…look at the parables of Jesus, or the millions of brilliant myths we are heir to…story is powerful! Thank you for all you do for us story-tellers who want to keep the flame burning!
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Thanks Mira 😀
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Solid reasoning Chris. Thanks.
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Thanks David 😀
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Reblogged this on Writing for the Whole Darn Universe.
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I totally agree, Chris! We need the stories (read: myths) of our culture not because we are compelled to believe in them literally, but because of what we can learn from them. And some of us writers do have a higher purpose for our writing, even if we write about alien termites! You’ll find that v.2 and v.3 of the Ki’shto’ba series speak volumes to certain conflicts of our present day. And both The Termite Queen and my WIP The Man Who Found Birds among the Stars are laid in a future history with a particularly pertinent underlying philosophy.
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Thanks Lorinda, I noticed that your stories are pertinent to present (and possibly near future) events, my review of Monster is in the eye of the Beholder (In our present age of increasing intolerance of, and prejudice against, anything and anyone that is ‘different’, this is certainly a thought provoking story, not least because we are at the early stages of interplanetary travel) may give a clue 😀
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Yes, I noticed that in your much appreciated review and that theme is certainly present, although I think my main intent in that novella was more to illustrate the fragility of the human (and alien) psyche. Wait till you read v.2 and especially v.3 of the Ki’shto’ba series!
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What a wonderful post. 🙂 I’m not sure it’s the ability to make stories that distinguish us from the other hominids, but I’d bet anything that our imaginations have something to do with it.
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Wonderful that you do! Thank you~
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Thanks Cindy 😀
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Reblogged this on Scribbles on the Wall and commented:
Chris Graham, a.k.a The Story reading Ape shares the reasons why he supports the independent author community.
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Chris, you have an excellent point there. And that’s my drive to write children’s stories as well. I always hope to change the world on story at a time. I always hope my stories instill values and touch hearts. Because if we, as humans lose our hearts and values then we would lose what make us humans in the first place. Thanks for your constant support, I can’t say it enough times. This job you have is time consuming and demanding. I’ll keep on supporting my fellow authors as well. Who knows, we might end up saving this crazy world we live on!
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Thanks Mariana and thanks to you and all the other authors who support my efforts in return, it’s greatly appreciated 😀
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