Welcome back to Christian Story Lab! Last week, we learned 3 simple habits to elevate your writing in 30 days or less. When I say simple, I mean I can do all 3 before my toddlers wake up in the morning.

Today's menu features a delectable trio:

1. A lesson in the beauty of sadness (yes, you read that right)

2. A masterclass in the art and evil of deception (villains, take notes!)

3. And the shocking success of a book that dares to call itself "boring."

September was a smorgasbord of story drops, so I compiled the top three stories released this last month.

Top 3 Stories Of September

🤖 The Wild Robot

💍 The Rings of Power (Season 2)

🐲 The Most Boring Book Ever

Let’s talk about each one 🤙

🤖 The Wild Robot: A Lesson In Emotional Storytelling

This week, I took my four-year-old son to watch The Wild Robot, adapted from Peter Brown's wildly popular trilogy.

I was not prepared for this one.

Tear Count Scorecard: Son: 2; Me: 3. (You win this round, kiddo)

Up until now, the stories my son consumes have been mostly pain-free or wrapped up with a neat 'happily ever after.' 

He likes it that way.

He's the kid who still cheers for Mufasa on the cliff's edge despite knowing the outcome.

But The Wild Robot broke this mold, and here's why that matters.

This movie dares to leave its audience with hearts tangled in an emotional knot.

It stands out in a sea of children's movies where stakes are low and endings too perfect. By allowing us to deeply care for Roz, the robot protagonist, the film earns every tear it draws.

Roz's journey mirrors the challenges many kids face:

• Confusion in a strange new environment

• Social loneliness

• Perseverance through awkwardness and failure

In other words, the life of a wild robot is oddly similar to that of my son, who is entering the age of independence in school and social life.

Watchers love Roz, but they also love to learn from her—and even better, they learn alongside her.

The movie gave my son a reason to push through the sad parts.

Roz also taught him how to work through those hard parts, how and why to keep trying, until he was able to appreciate that sometimes sadness isn't a bad thing to feel.

As I watched this movie, I was reminded of our immense responsibility and opportunity as storytellers.

Whether we're writing novels, creating animations, or crafting sermons, our goal should be to create stories that resonate deeply and aren't afraid to explore the full spectrum of human emotion.

1. Embrace the Full Emotional Spectrum: Don't shy away from sadness, fear, or doubt. Every good story is driven by internal conflict, not external conflict. If you don’t believe me, send me a message with the exception.

2. Show Meaningful Transformation: A good story is a story of transformation. Where you end a story should be the opposite of where you started. I’ll cover this in another newsletter, but this is a progression of every story. In this one, Roz begins the story alone, out of her element, and wanting to be back with her own kind. Can you guess how the movie ended? Transformation.

I’ll join the mob on this one. The Wild Robot is 10/10.

💍 Rings of Power (Season 2): A Lesson in Depicting Evil.

Ah, The Rings of Power Season 2 – a feast for some, a famine for others. Like an Elvish smithy, it's forged both mithril and mundane steel.

Here’s my take: Season 2 deliciously crafts evil in a way we should pay attention.

Let’s get the problems out of the way first. There are too many characters, the episodes jump back and forth between plotlines in a way that feels frenetic, and the plot is overstuffed with action spectacles and overwrought dialogue.

Now that that’s over let's talk about what made Season 2 dynamic.

Season 2 of The Rings of Power truly belongs to its chief villain, Sauron, brilliantly portrayed by Charlie Vickers. Following the twist reveal of Halbrand as Sauron in Season 1, this season delves deep into Sauron's origins, ambitions, and his cunning efforts to consolidate power through the forging of magical rings.

For much of the season, we see the shape-shifting Dark Lord in his "fair form" as Annatar, the "Lord of Gifts."

It's a masterclass in deception as he poses as an emissary of the Valar, worming his way into the trust of the Elves of Eregion, particularly the lead craftsman Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards).

The parallels with Satan are impossible to miss – from his silver-tongued deception to his frequent "I have many names" refrain. (I half expected him to introduce himself as "Lucifer Morningstar" at some point.)

His interactions with Celebrimbor are a chilling reminder of how the Devil operates. He offers tantalizing promises of glory, power, and a "greater good" that are hard to resist.

As the season unfolds, we witness a familiar and tragic arc for those who wear the rings: what they believed to be a tool they could master becomes the very thing that enslaves them.

These rings, much like in Tolkien's original work, stand as powerful metaphors for the corruption of power, the allure of pragmatism, and the dangers of choosing the quick and easy path over the right one. (Always read the fine print, folks.)

Refreshingly, Season 2 contrasts good and evil more than its predecessor.

This season clearly celebrates light—representing transcendent virtue, goodness, truth, and beauty—as the ultimate weapon against the armies of darkness.

It reminds us that sometimes, the best way to fight evil isn't with bigger guns but with brighter hearts.

As storytellers, The Rings of Power offers us valuable lessons in crafting narratives that not only entertain but also illuminate deep spiritual truths.

Here's how:

1. Depict evil accurately / Don't shy away from showing its allure and deception / Evil should be just as tempting as it is terrifying.

2. Highlight the power of light / Emphasize that true goodness, virtue, and truth are the ultimate answers to darkness / Show how it endures even in the darkest times.

3. Illustrate the corruption process / Show how seemingly small compromises can lead to significant moral failures / Reveal the subtle ways evil can take root.

4. Use metaphors wisely / Like the rings, find symbols that can represent complex spiritual truths / Make these accessible to your audience.

Remember, in the end, we're not just entertaining but illuminating. After all, in storytelling as in Middle-earth, it's the smallest deeds that often change the course of the future.

🐲 The Most Boring Book Ever: A Lesson in Creative Partnership

Brandon Sanderson, the master of 1200-page "novellas," has pulled a fast one on his critics with The Most Boring Book Ever. 

It's his cheeky response to those clamoring for shorter works, and boy, does it deliver – in the most delightfully unexpected way.

Here is some commentary on the simple sentence found in the story:

This book celebrates the mundane. It's an ode to boredom, a paean to math, and a love letter to the art of sitting in chairs.

And it’s anything but boring.

The magic lies in the partnership between Sanderson's minimalist text and Kazu Kibuishi's spectacular illustrations. Sanderson fans will savor every carefully chosen word, while Kibuishi enthusiasts will lose themselves in the rich, characteristic artwork.

It's a testament to how two different artistic approaches can elevate each other to create something truly unique.

Sure, the price tag for a hardcover children's book about an "outrageously boring" storyline might raise a few eyebrows. (I'll admit, part of me wishes I'd thought of this brilliant idea first!)

But what we're really buying here is a masterclass in storytelling partnership.

In a world of flashy TV shows and pressure to create intricate plots with complex character arcs, The Most Boring Book Ever reminds me of a fundamental truth: A good story is simply one that keeps its audience engaged until the end.

Even an extraordinary chair and a seemingly dull plot can captivate us.

That’s my mission at Christian Story Lab. I want to foster partnerships between Christian creators across different mediums.

• Words with art.

• Art with motion graphics.

• Books with soundtracks.

• Movies with written spin-offs.

This is the new frontier of storytelling, and I want to equip Christian creators to be at the forefront.

Don't underestimate the power of creative collaboration. Your words might be the chair, but someone else's art could be the extraordinary that brings it to life.

Or vice versa.

Embrace the "boring" and see where it takes you.

Storytellers, today we've hit the jackpot - three powerful lessons for the price of one!

Here’s the TLDR:

• The Wild Robot's Lesson: Embrace the full spectrum of emotions in your stories. Don't shy away from sadness, anger, or fear. Remember, great stories are driven by internal conflict as much as external conflict.

• The Rings of Power Lesson: When depicting evil, balance its allure with its terror. Show how characters are deceived into darkness, not born into it. Let your audience grapple with this tension.

• The Most Boring Book Ever Lesson: Creative partnerships can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Even a "boring" concept can captivate when brought to life through collaborative storytelling.

These lessons remind us that compelling storytelling often defies conventional wisdom.

Whether it's a robot learning to love, a dark lord's seductive power, or a deliberately boring book that fascinates, the key lies in emotional depth, nuanced characters, and innovative collaborations.

Are you ready to elevate your storytelling?

At Christian Story Lab, we're passionate about helping creators like you craft narratives that resonate, not alienate.

Whether you're a writer, illustrator, animator, or any other type of storyteller, you’re invited to join the community of people simply trying to tell better stories.

Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter to be the first to hear about future workshops, resources, and collaboration opportunities.

Seriously. Your next creative partnership could be just a click away!

This Week’s Christian Creator Highlight!

This is a bit of a departure from traditional Christian creators, but Michael Whittle, the visionary behind PulpitAi, is revolutionizing how pastors, churches, and technology interact. That fits the definition of a Christian creator in my book.

As always, feel free to submit your stories, illustrations, or videos by replying to this email or tagging me on X (@thepaytonminz). Let me know if you’d prefer to remain anonymous.

Write on 🤙

Payton