Fire, flints and fiction

Fiction remains one of humanities greatest inventions and we seem to need stories in our lives not only to explain the mysteries of existence but to enhance the fact of existence.

Why stories matter

Writers can’t always be trusted when they talk about the power and importance of stories, but they offer the reader a chance to see the world through the eyes of others, and develop empathy for their struggles.

The science of the plot twist: How writers exploit our brains

Human cognitive tendencies help explain why plot twists can be so satisfying. But somewhat counterintuitively, they also explain why knowing about a plot twist ahead of time – the dreaded “spoiler” – doesn’t really spoil the experience at all.