The History of Storytellers

The Power of Words

The roughly 6,500 languages in the world prove that our words hold tremendous importance and power.

Since the beginning of time, stories have helped humankind make sense of things such as nature, the four seasons, and the cycle of life. They can evoke emotions such as joy, fear, surprise, and sorrow. Our words can bring joy and entertain, share knowledge and beliefs, or obtain the things we need. Our tales can communicate larger concepts, things that are important or meaningful to us, and give us a sense of purpose. We can even use our stories as vessels to connect, relate, and build a sense of community.

That deep connection stems from relating to the point of the story.

What’s Your Point?

Every story has a point, or a central theme, such as love conquers all, good triumphs over evil, it’s never too late, change is constant, death is inevitable, beauty is everywhere, knowledge is power, or overcoming adversity.

If the plot is what happens in the story, then the point is why it matters. Your point is the underlying universal message you are conveying through your story, and this is what connects yourself and all your readers together.

In Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, Jessica Brody explains that almost any point will be derived from one of ten universal lessons:

Because the point of a story will stem from this small list of universal lessons, it is most often going to be a cliché. But clichés exist for a reason—they represent universal feelings. Your point may be a cliché that has been used countless times before, but each storyteller makes their story distinct in the way they tell it in their own voice, the dynamic characters they bring to life, and the unique shape their story takes.

Storytellers Throughout History

Even before we used the written word, our ancestors told stories as a device to preserve their history, entertain their spectators, explain natural phenomena, and build connection among their people.

Cavemen painted stories of danger, hunting for food, and survival. The people of ancient Greece told mythical lore to explain how the world came to be and provide moral lessons. Bards, griots, seanchaí, and the like shared tales through songs and poems to educate and preserve history. Today, people write about things they believe in, dream about, or hope will be relatable to others.

These are just a few examples of the countless storytellers and methods used throughout history, but in each case, the common goal was to nurture connection through a central point.

The Written Word

The development of writing opened a whole new world of opportunity for storytellers. Millennia later, we still enjoy sharing stories—only now, we can share them with a much larger audience through the written word.

Every year, about 650 million printed books are sold! Each fiction book can sell anywhere from 500 to 500,000 copies in its lifetime. There’s no denying that people love to read a good book! And now that you know a little about the history of storytellers, you can understand why.

Let’s Bring Your Words to Life!

I believe everyone has a story to tell, and every storyteller wishes to captivate their audience from start to finish. When you partner with an editor who truly gets your story and your unique authorial voice, you can transform your story into its most captivating version and continue the age-old tradition of nurturing a sense of community and belonging.

As the owner and book editor at Red Quill Editorial, I offer a variety of manuscript editing services to meet your needs, using an honest yet gentle approach. I am available every step of the way to answer your editing questions, help you perfect your writing craft, and celebrate your wins with you. I can also connect you with my colleagues in the publishing industry, including proofreaders, illustrators, cover designers, formatters, and more.

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Red Quill Editorial LLC