The importance of fiction. I’ve met some people in my life who have told me that they don’t read fiction; that they find no value in it. Well, let me tell you a couple of reasons why you should be reading a novel right now.

First of all, everyone needs a story bouncing around in their head. If you don’t feed yourself a story in the form of a novel, your brain will create a story of its own. Do you know what stories your brain likes to create? It loves to create stories that are dark and void of hope. So feed your brain a story.

Second, fiction inspires mankind to attempt things that aren’t considered possible. Fiction pushes the envelope. Fiction motivates, inspires and sparks innovation. One of my favorite quotes of Jules Verne is, “What one man can dream, another can achieve.” Scientists and engineers know how to make things, but it’s the writers who dream up what needs to be made.

Last, a novel is a perfect diversion because it cannot be consumed in one sitting. Unlike movies, television and other forms of media, novels take time. In between those moments of ingesting brilliantly crafted phrasings from a wordsmith, we, the reader, think. What do we think about? Solutions! Choices! Possibilities! What is our hero or heroine going to do? How will they get out of this situation? What if they do x? What if they choose y? What about z? Our brains love to figure things out, and quite frankly… they need the practice. From time to time my brain thinks about some stories I read decades ago and wonders, “What if they had done this instead?”

So, pick up a novel. Take your time. I think the perfect read at this exact moment is Andy Weir’s The Martian, but truly any novel will do. I use to consume Tom Clancy novels like Doritos while others scolded me and waved the classics at me. It doesn’t matter. Find a good story. Entertain yourself. Work your brain. Mark Twain brilliantly pointed out, “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”

I was blessed to grow up in a house with lots of books, paper, and writing utensils. Always keep a good book near. Most don’t.

Kelly Croy is an author, speaker, and educator. Want to learn more? Send an email. • Sign-up for Kelly’s Newsletter. Listen to Kelly’s other podcast The Wired Educator Podcast with over 148 episodes of interviews and professional development. • Order Kelly’s book, Along Came a Leader for your personal library. • Follow Kelly Croy on Facebook.  • Follow Kelly Croy on Twitter.  •  Follow Kelly Croy on Instagram