Friday, April 6, 2012

F is for Fiction is a Lie


"Fiction is a lie, and good fiction is the truth inside the lie."

~Stephen King


[Ha! Doesn't The Truth Inside the Lie sounds like an episode title for the TV show Bones?]

Seriously, though-- the things that can make a completely fantastical story believable are the truths in it. From universal human truths about the characters right on down to the "rules" for a different world. If there are too many things that don't ring true, readers aren't willing to continue suspending disbelief. It's all about the truths!

Truth: I want to eat these cookies now.

Recipe and Photo Credit for Abby Sweets

Happy Friday!



24 comments:

Cristina said...

That King guy is one smart cookie!!!!

Leigh Ann said...

Ahhhh I love this! With the two halves of my life overlapping (writing a Bible story retelling) I'm reminded that this is exactly how I talk to my students about the Bible when they insist that "There's no way that stuff really happened."
"Okay," I say, "but does that mean it's not True?"

<3 Happy Friday, happy Easter, my friend. <3

JeffO said...

No lie, King speaks the truth. It's funny, because sometimes truth (i.e., 'this really happened!') doesn't work in fiction. But you absolutely have to have The Truth for it to work.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking you need to organize a writing blogfest called "The Truth Inside the Lie." Can you smell that? Smells like a brainstorm is coming.

Anonymous said...

I TOTALLY get what you're saying! When I write, I'm always sprinkling truth in my sentences to give the reader pause. I've had beta readers tell me, "you got the pregnant woman down pat", about my pregnant characters in my book.

But, really, aren't we all as writers wanting to sprinkle a little truth in our lies? :)

Tonja said...

I love the quote - so true. Have a great weekend.

Tracy MacDonald said...

I LOVE Stephen King. He's the reason I read. That statement is so true and it's part of what makes so many of his stories believable. I could go on, but I won't.
Those cookies look awesome! I've got a Root beer Float on my page today. Happy Friday!
A2ZMommy and What’s In Between

S. L. Hennessy said...

That's a TERRIFIC quote. I'm writing that one down.

Angela Cothran said...

Finding gems of truth in books is why I read :)

Donna K. Weaver said...

Great quote. *winks*

And those cookies look particularly yummy this morning.

Jenny S. Morris said...

Stephen King and Bones in one post. Love it. And it so true. LOL.

Truth-I'm stealing your cookies. ;0)

Happy Easter.

Tasha Seegmiller said...

So I can eat cookies for breakfast, right? Because they have milk and eggs and...well that's like two food groups!

King is brilliant and scary.

Kelley Lynn said...

Oh my gosh, Peggy. I own every season of Bones and if I were home right now I'd check :) haha.

BUT I do think there is an episode called The Body inside the Lye. Or something like that :)

Elana Johnson said...

Fabulous quote for this F Friday. :)

Lyla said...

Yes, I totally agree and love that quote by Mr. King. And those cookies look so good!

I've left you a blog award over at:
http://lylawrites.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-awards-galore-sequel.html

Carrie Butler said...

Have a great weekend, Pegasus! Happy Easter! :)

Kristine said...

Interesting quote. And yummy looking cookies!
Fiction is my favorite to read. Especially since I live in Non-Fiction.

Krista McLaughlin said...

That is a great point about fiction! And I want some of those cookies too! Yum. :)

Nicole said...

Yup, those powerful human truths are what pull me into books as a reader...and what I strive for as a writer.

Janna said...

Great quote, and so true. If there is nothing true in a work of fiction, there is nothing we can relate to.

I cracked up about the Bones title. I wouldn't be surprised.

Sarah Tokeley said...

I don't mind believing people can fly, magic is real and an ogre is King, but if you tell me that an 80lb girl with no training can take down said Ogre, you've lost me :-)

Sylvia Ney said...

I am Sooo craving cookies now! ;-) Congratulations on your book coming out next year. Best of luck with your success.

New follower here. I’m enjoying reading my fellow “A to Z”ers. I look forward to visiting again.

Sylvia
http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

Peggy Eddleman said...

Okay, I'm going to try something new, and comment to ones I can't comment to via email here, and comment via email to the rest. Hopefully I got them all!

Jack-- Wow! I'm impressed! That's not an easy thing to do.

Tracy-- I think his quote is what makes almost every story worth reading! And mmm. I LOVE root beer floats. I haven't had one in FOREVER!

Lyla-- Awww! Thanks so much for the blog award! You're so sweet!

Carrie-- You, too, Carrie!

Kristine-- Hahahaha! Yeah. It's nice to get a little fiction in when you live in a non-fiction world. Love it!

Krista-- Thanks! And me, too. I've been eating them with my eyes all day.

Nicole-- Me, too!

Janna-- I'm going to have to go look up if it is a title RIGHT NOW. Hang on.... There isn't one that's exactly that, but two that were close! "The Truth in the Lye" and "The Truth in the Myth."

Sylvia-- Thanks! You're so sweet! And welcome!

Cynthia said...

That's a very insightful quote you gave. The truth is, I'd like to have a cookie too.