There are lots of skills that are important for writers. Relationship building, networking, productivity, creative thinking, organization, and editing are a few that come to mind.

However, there is one skill that trumps them all. It also happens to be the oldest communication skill in the world: storytelling.

For thousands of years, humans have told stories, whether it was through the epic poetry of Homer, hieroglyphics written on the walls of Egyptian tombs, the ancient stories of the Bible, print books that were developed just a few hundred years ago, or the podcasts and blog posts we have today.

But, when it comes to fiction, what is the purpose of storytelling? What is the use of engaging in stories that aren’t even real?

The novelist Tim O’Brien sheds some light on this question. He said, “That’s what fiction is for. It’s for getting at the truth when the truth isn’t sufficient for the truth.”

We love stories because they are a way to understand the truth. We humans are a species that like indirect communication. We are much more prone to accept the truth when it comes indirectly through storytelling.

Our primary job as writers is to tell the truth. We do that through nonfiction, novels, short stories, biographies, TV and movies, speeches and presentations, and every other form of writing. The most important way to do that is through telling stories.

When it comes to writing skills, there is nothing more important than learning to tell a powerful story. It’s a direct line to the human heart.