The Author behind the Story

By Daniel Francis

I read non-fiction books, specifically books in the self-help category. Learning is typically my main objective when reading, so I have little appeal for fiction books. Self-help books have also helped me write my books, which are in the self-help genre as well. However, I have been trying to get into fiction books of late. I want to experience getting lost in a story.

I’m still on the hunt for the first novel I will read, but while exploring my options, I thought back to my secondary school days. One of the books we had to read for Literature class was Green Days by the River. It’s a classic coming-of-age story following the main character, Shellie. In the book, he is navigating moving to a new village, falling for two girls, and the different experiences that come with being a teenage boy.

Reminiscing on that book made me reflect on the characters themselves. As a reader, we understand the characters a lot better than they understand themselves. Due to the bird’s-eye view that we have, we can identify consequences before they happen and even recognise patterns they won’t be able to see.

Then I thought of the experience as an author, which is similar to the reader’s experience, but with more control as they write the stories and create the characters. Readers and the author have a unique perspective that the characters in the book could never have.

Let’s flip the perspective for a moment. What if the characters became aware they were in a story? How would this change how they interpret the events that are happening around them? How do the patterns that are now apparent to them affect how they experience their own suffering, delays, or loss? With this new perspective, could they ever fully understand the author who wrote their reality? It’s a curious thing to consider. In this breaking of the fourth wall by the character, I believe they would still not be able to fully comprehend the author. How could they?

If we really think about it, God is the Author of our realities. We are like characters in a story, and God has a bird’s-eye view like an author writing a book. We cannot fully fathom God, because how can you truly understand the author of your story when you are a character in that story?

It’s interesting thinking about God being an entity living outside of time itself. We experience life moment by moment, but like the author, God sees our full narrative. Just like the characters in books, our limited perspective explains why we struggle to understand God’s plan for us. We do not see our full narrative; we only experience the moments.

So, in a difficult moment, we cannot understand what this experience will lead to later in the plot.

Common questions we ask in these moments of suffering are:

• Why is this terrible thing happening to me?
• Does God not love me?
• Why me?
• Why now?
• Why doesn’t God help me?

I recall a time when I was at a prayer meeting way back when. A child had died in an accident, and someone asked, “How could God allow this to happen?” The reply they got was that we do not know what God had in store for not only that child but also those surrounding the child.

Thinking in the context of this article, the question that they asked and the questions I listed above are ‘character-level’ questions, trying to understand an ‘Author-level’ mind.

The key thing is that even though we cannot fully comprehend God, we can truly know Him. God has revealed Himself to us in Scripture, liturgy through the Mass, and through the sacraments. All of these, He has freely given us access to.

We can use these to better know Him, grow closer to Him, and come to a place of holiness and peace so as not to get too bogged down by character-level questions. Sure, there will be fear and uncertainty living moment to moment without knowing the full narrative, but with a firm belief and closeness to God, we can at least trust that the narrative He has produced for us has purpose.

Even if we can’t see the plot, we know there is one. This is why we must trust in His guidance.

When life feels difficult, when you don’t understand why you are suffering in the way that you are suffering, and when life does not seem to make sense, remember that this is a chapter and not your full story.

The Author sees what you cannot see, so allow trust to replace confusion. Trust the architect of your story. Know that God is not random but very intentional, so there is purpose in your experiences. So even though we may not understand every chapter, trust the pen of the Author: trust in God.

Daniel Francis, author of The Millennial Mind, The Millennial Experience, and How to Write and Self-Publish Your Book, is an entrepreneur passionate about leadership and storytelling. As a leadership development coach at Rebit Limited, he has spent the last four years equipping individuals to thrive personally and professionally.

He also leads One Momentum Publishing, a hybrid publishing company through which he has guided hundreds of authors on their journey from idea to published book.

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