What is the secret to a story with longevity? Author Neil Gaiman spoke about this subject during a seminar for The Long Now Foundation.
Gaiman argues that stories are alive. He feels that like all living beings, stories evolve over time; he also argues that human beings need stories which is why they tend to pass them down generation to generation.
Follow this link to listen to a SoundCloud clip that features Gaiman’s talk in its entirety. How old is your favorite story? (via brain pickings)