Writers, unless writing exclusively nonfiction, are liars. We tell people things that aren't true. Yes, our readers know they're being told lies, but not everyone understands the extent.
Some readers become convinced certain settings exist. I once had an acquaintance who spent his free-time searching for an old theatre described in a mystery novel. I thought he was bonkers, to be honest and have no idea if he ever found it. But, since writers DO weave facts inside stories, maybe it is out there in some form.
Even if you've never went as overboard as my acquaintance, I am sure books have gotten you in other ways. Who reading this hasn't cried over an ending, felt relieved when the protagonist won, or cheered when that dumb character finally dumped a cheating spouse? Stories can alter us... they have.
Maybe the truths within the lies are what make readers believe or feel. Or, perhaps, it is simply a desire to believe.
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As of today, I am preparing to go to my mom's. I hope to hear about your excellent accomplishments when I return!
Hmmm. I agree with you. But there are lots of truths in novels. Neil Gaiman in "American Gods" writes a whole section addressing this. He says to Americans to please avoid going out and looking for the places that I write about in my novel. Many of them are made up...but some are not. Nevertheless you should respect those places and not pester the people that live there just because I wrote about them.
ReplyDeleteSo true and well said. The truths woven in with the fiction are what make stories appealing to readers. It takes a good author to convince us of these "lies".
ReplyDeleteThat's the fun part of a fiction book - the fable that it weaves.
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