Why read fiction? I have a few ideas. If you know someone who dislikes to read fiction, I bet they never really gave it a chance. There are many benefits to reading fiction that I bet even the most avid fiction reader has yet to consider.
I look at it this way. Non-fiction is mostly about learning something new. We pick up a “how to” book or a book about WWII andhope to learn something new.
Photo by Terranaut
But most who read fiction, and those who don’t read fiction, may not think of it as a learning process.
But like non-fiction, believe it or not, there’s much to learn when we read fiction.
My reasons to read fiction
I’ll begin with my favorite reason to read fiction—and this concept may be a real lightning rod for some folks—but here it goes. Fiction WILL enhance empathy.
Yep…it will.
Empathy is our ability to make sense of the feelings of another person. When we are empathetic, we share what the person is feeling. We feel the emotions of others and relate to them on a whole new level. We feel joy when they win the race of their life, or they escape a burning building. Or we feel misery when they just lost their job, or they are diagnosed with cancer, or when their dog died.
Good writing means good characters so when we get to know them and immerse ourselves in their emotions and their lives, we develop the ability to relate with others outside of the fictional world. Just think, perhaps if we read more fiction we will see our personal relationships enhanced. Maybe we might think differently about our fellow humans across the planet. Enhancing our empathy is a top reason for me to read fiction
Creativity
When we read fiction it will heighten our creativity and we may be more receptive to new and unique ideas.
When we read fiction we uncover an endless supply of new ideas and new ways to think.
Our perspective is broadened. That’s what being creative means—to think in new ways and be open to other’s ideas as well.
It transports us
We can go anywhere in the world, in the universe and parallel universes, and do it all by staying in the comfort of our favorite place to read. It can transport us back in time, in the future, to another planet or under the sea–the list goes on. We see new worlds develop right in front of our mind’s eye. The author gives the reader enough room so they, too, are part of the world-building.
That’s pretty cool. We are reminded that the world is not black and white, and fiction urges us to color our own lives.
Another favorite – our imagination
Our imagination takes off when we read fiction. Unfortunately, as we age most of our imagination becomes stagnant but when we read fiction, like magic, it reappears. We become immersed in unique adventures, taking journeys and going on quests we will never take in “real life”. But we can do so much more when reading fiction. When we read fiction it ignites something in our mind. Our imagination grows. We gain a spectacular and new perspectives and this spills out to our real life.
How we think
Reading fiction improves how we think and improves our cognitive skills. All eight genres, as well as literary fiction, can be complex whether the novel is a horror, mystery/crime, science fiction, thriller/suspense, romance, fantasy, western, historical, or young adult.
As we think through the complexities of the plot as well as each character we meet, we improve our memory and our critical thinking skills.
We start to get in the heads of the characters, and we think through the situation with them. We may ask, “Why did you do that?” or “Don’t even think about it.”
Entertainment, escapism and emotional well-being
It’s obvious! We read fiction for entertainment or for escapism. Many books take us to our “happy place” or meet us where we feel today, right now. Sometimes we need a good romance or be whisked away is a good suspense or young adult story.
With millions of books, every kind of story is only a click away.
When we read fiction, it is like talking to an old friend who brings us a smile when we need it. We can turn off the real world and enter a fictional world, and we are better off for it. Good fiction is worth multiple reads as we learn or feel something new each time. We find another gem that the author is sharing with us.
Similarly, fiction helps improve our emotional well-being. We can cry, laugh, or feel sorrow, but then we can put it aside—it can be very cathartic. Fiction allows us to feel every emotion and can be releasing and cleansing.
Engaging with others
How you engage others will grow with reading fiction. Just being exposed to different authors from all over the world, or from just down the street, we learn of the many cultures that make up the world. Maybe we’ll pick up something new that helps us when we reach out to others. Maybe we will add words to our vocabulary as well.
By the very nature of “fiction”, many folks think, is it made up…it’s all pretend. But I don’t think so. It gives us the truth but just in different ways.
Humans have always learned from stories and we need as many stories as we can get our hands on especially today.
Can you think of other reasons? I want to hear from you.
About E.G. Kardos
I am a fiction writer and the author of five books. My writing draws inspiration from the beauty surrounding us all—both in nature and in each other. Spirituality, friendship, love, and our connection to the universe inspire me to write. Here’s more about me and my books.
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