Turning theme into action.

From bedtime stories to chats around the coffeemaker at work, we have immersed ourselves in narrative on a daily basis for most of our lives. Books, movies, and television have become the touchstones of modern culture. We all recognize “Feel the Force, Luke” and “If you build it, they will come.” These stories have created a secret handshake of sorts, and people from every walk of life gather in person and online to celebrate fandoms from board games to books, movie franchises, and specific genres.

Stories bring us together.

Stories can also convey influential messages and deeper meaning. What the author intends and what the reader or viewer perceives can be very different things, but that’s why we love to talk about them. Shared stories help us forget our differences, and remember that no matter your ethnicity, gender, or social status, we know how it feels to love and be loved; we understand the pain of loss and betrayal; we long for the comfort of companionship.

This power to unite us in understanding and empathy is the reason for the personal and commentary essays you will find on Scenescape Media.

Personal Essays

The root of the word '“essay” is essai, an old French word that means “to attempt”, or “a trial.” This is important because essays are often how creators work through the questions they have about the world and their place in it. Think of essays as thought experiments. The author is drawing from their knowledge and experiences to share their point of view. This is especially true of personal essays.

Commentary Essays

The terms “essay” and “commentary” are often used interchangeably, but I offer an important distinction here for readers and listeners; a commentary essay differs from a personal essay in that it should involve more research, data, and objective analysis. While a personal essay can be pure feeling, opinion, and walks down memory lane, commentary must ground the author’s claims more fully, focusing less on personal feelings and more on the factual and philosophical basis of the point of view being presented.

That being said. . .

I have no plans to become an authority on anything. I’m just a human seeking to discuss cool stuff with other humans, who are as deeply flawed as I am. It means the process could get messy, mistakes will be made, misunderstandings will likely happen. So—it’s essential that all discussions and feedback be liberally sprinkled with grace, patience, forgiveness, and perhaps even humility.

About Susan

I've spent the last 25+ years as the mother of homeschoolers, teaching my kids to be self-motivated, independent learners. My kids have graduated, married, and now I’m a grandma.

My online journey began in 2006 when I started blogging about my experiences as a homeschool parent. It was a convenient way for me to share and connect with other parents.

But all these years later, the learning never stops, so neither does the writing.

My childhood was filled with stories that helped me learn about the world, deal with fear and uncertainty, and understand people who were different than me. They were comfort and companionship. Books were my best friends.

The power of story, whether truth or fiction, continues to fascinate me. I hope you’ll join this conversation about what stories can teach us so we may become better versions of ourselves, and make a difference in our world.