Why I’m Here

I’m here because books have saved my life. Literally. More than once.

When I was in college and alone and life felt too heavy to carry and whatever future I imagined for myself seemed not just impossible, but laughable; I remember sitting down on a bench in a small green space and getting lost in The Diamond Age by: Neal Stephenson. An hour later, when I came out of that world, all my problems and everything I didn’t like about myself was manageable again. I could find solutions. I could find and achieve goals.

The weird thing is The Diamond Age isn’t really even about those sorts of things. It’s a near future, dystopian look at nanotechnology, virtual education, crazy geopolitics, and hypocrisy. It’s a fascinating work of science fiction but it is far from traditionally uplifting. It was not a self-help book. It’s not even the best thing Neal Stephenson ever wrote. That honor goes to Cryptonomicon, closely followed by Snow Crash; although the list of Stephenson books worth reading is long and ever expanding.

But The Diamond Age did what I believe all good novels should do, it allowed me escape. Not the mindless escapism of a big dumb action movie or an episode of a beloved sitcom you’ve seen a hundred times before–though there is nothing wrong with those things in themselves–but the escape and relief that is provided when a good book points your mind in a new direction. When you are given an unfamiliar yet recognizable and beautifully realized world to explore. When you meet characters that feel like people, not just idealized walking jokes or superheroes, but real people with all the flaws and idiosyncrasies and kindness and selfishness that comes along with them. When you’re presented with ideas and theories on culture and technology and relationships that won’t leave your head for weeks. That’s something that only real storytelling can give you. That’s what I value above all else.

So that is what I’m going to strive to create and talk about. On here, I will detail my attempts to become a published fiction writer as well as writing personal essays on any piece of storytelling that I find meaningful. I appreciate anyone who comes here and reads these words of mine. I appreciate anyone trying to tell a story that matters to them. Welcome everyone. Thank you for being here. I hope you enjoy yourself.