--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... but some say that reality is what…" description: "\"“... but some say that reality is what happens inside a writer's head, and it is fiction which takes place outside it.”\" — Barry A. Whittingham" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/barry-a-whittingham-77157_humorous-quotations_but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happen_2764825.jpg" --- # ... but some say that reality is what happens inside a… ![“... but some say that reality is what happens inside a writer's head, and it is fiction which takes place outside it.” quote by Barry A. Whittingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/barry-a-whittingham-77157_humorous-quotations_but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happen_2764825.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/barry-a-whittingham-77157_humorous-quotations_but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happen_2764825.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/barry-a-whittingham-77157_humorous-quotations_but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happen_2764825.jpg) > ““... but some say that reality is what happens inside a writer's head, and it is fiction which takes place outside it.”” Barry A. Whittingham ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reality is subjective, existing in the writer’s mind, while fiction occupies the external world. **In simple terms:** Reality is mental; fiction is external. Key Takeaway Recognize the distinction between internal perception and external narrative. Themes perception creativity reality fiction Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - writing - storytelling - media analysis - philosophical debate Key Concepts subjectivity narrative theory Questions to Reflect On - How does your own perception shape what you consider real? - Can fiction reveal truths about reality? A Different Perspective The line between reality and fiction can blur in immersive media. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humorous-quotations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous-quotations/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [What's made up in the head is the fiction. What comes out of the heart is a myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/what-s-made-up-in-the-head-is-the-fiction-what-comes-out-of-the-heart/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Film fixes a precise visual image in the viewer's head. In fiction, you just hope you're precise enough to convey the intended effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/film-fixes-a-precise-visual-image-in-the-viewer-s-head-in-fiction-you/) [Jeff Vandermeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [Most dreams are also part reality (otherwise we wouldn't believe them), and reality happens to be a condition that gives you plenty of chances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/most-dreams-are-also-part-reality-otherwise-we-wouldn-t-believe-them/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Every morning, I have high expectations, and then I confront the reality of what happens at 4 o'clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-williams/every-morning-i-have-high-expectations-and-then-i-confront-the/) [Ron Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-williams/) > [If 80,000,000 polygons per second is reality, what happens to you when you live in a world 160,000,000?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/if-80-000-000-polygons-per-second-is-reality-what-happens-to-you-when/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [I've always really appreciated projects that talk about death as a reality. It happens to all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinta-brunson/i-ve-always-really-appreciated-projects-that-talk-about-death-as-a/) [Quinta Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinta-brunson/) > [Every time my dreams threaten to become reality, something always happens and I end up alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-green/every-time-my-dreams-threaten-to-become-reality-something-always/) [Jane Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-green/) > [Reality is not so much what happens to us; rather, it is how we think about those events that create the reality we experience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/reality-is-not-so-much-what-happens-to-us-rather-it-is-how-we-think/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [When Truman Capote wrote from the perspective of condemned murderers from a lower economic class than his own, he had some gall. But writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/when-truman-capote-wrote-from-the-perspective-of-condemned-murderers/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [Against the sustained tick of a watch, fiction takes the measure of a life, a season, a look exchanged, the turning point, desire as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mavis-gallant/against-the-sustained-tick-of-a-watch-fiction-takes-the-measure-of-a/) [Mavis Gallant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mavis-gallant/) > [The making of fiction takes literally what is suggested by our imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/the-making-of-fiction-takes-literally-what-is-suggested-by-our/) [Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/) > [I've always liked the fact that fiction takes all these pretty unquantifiable human feelings and experiences and projects them onto the page in ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bradfield/i-ve-always-liked-the-fact-that-fiction-takes-all-these-pretty/) [Scott Bradfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bradfield/) > [“Day after day, week after week; writing great fiction takes time, emotion, skill and effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaya-ellman/day-after-day-week-after-week-writing-great-fiction-takes-time/) [Amaya Ellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaya-ellman/) > [Fiction takes us to places that we would never otherwise go, and puts us behind eyes that are not our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/fiction-takes-us-to-places-that-we-would-never-otherwise-go-and-puts/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Everything a writer learns about the art or craft of fiction takes just a little away from his need or desire to write at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/everything-a-writer-learns-about-the-art-or-craft-of-fiction-takes/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) ## More by Barry A. Whittingham > [“Fiction is what happens inside a writer's head. Reality takes place outside it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-a-whittingham/fiction-is-what-happens-inside-a-writer-s-head-reality-takes-place/) Barry A. Whittingham > [“Things are never as bad as we fear nor as good as we hope. François Théodore Thistlethwaite”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-a-whittingham/things-are-never-as-bad-as-we-fear-nor-as-good-as-we-hope-fran-ois-th/) Barry A. Whittingham Explore all 3 Barry A. Whittingham quotes ## More Humorous-quotations quotes > [“When we removed your son, we replaced him with nothing!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-malema/when-we-removed-your-son-we-replaced-him-with-nothing/) [Julius Malema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-malema/) > [“If the pen is mightier than the sword, then what is the laptop? A light saber or a life saver?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-sword-then-what-is-the-laptop-a-light/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Why do these big old country houses always have family portraits in the dining room? Do you really want to eat with someone's gloomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-jane-howard/why-do-these-big-old-country-houses-always-have-family-portraits-in/) [Elizabeth Jane Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-jane-howard/) > [“Yea though I walk through the Valley of Death, I shall fear no evil, for I am the baddest M-F in the valley.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherise-sinclair/yea-though-i-walk-through-the-valley-of-death-i-shall-fear-no-evil/) [Cherise Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherise-sinclair/) > [“I'm an American, our names don't mean shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-m-an-american-our-names-don-t-mean-shit/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [“I've always worried a lot. And frankly I'm good at it." The late Erma Bombeck, one of the funniest women ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-robertson/i-ve-always-worried-a-lot-and-frankly-i-m-good-at-it-the-late-erma/) Catherine Robertson > [“As the nicknames get shorter, people come closer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mita-jain/as-the-nicknames-get-shorter-people-come-closer/) [Mita Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mita-jain/) > [“A Prince asked the dying spanish statesman, "Does your Excellency forgive all your enemies?" "I do not have to forgive all my enemies," answered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/a-prince-asked-the-dying-spanish-statesman-does-your-excellency/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“Is it necessary, do you think,’ he began, leaning in so close behind me that I could smell his breath, ‘for the purpose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-wood/is-it-necessary-do-you-think-he-began-leaning-in-so-close-behind-me/) [Danielle Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-wood/) > [“You just wanted to walk in front of me so I'd have to stare at your butt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-just-wanted-to-walk-in-front-of-me-so-i-d-have-to-stare-at-your/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Weakness is weaker when discovered by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mita-jain/weakness-is-weaker-when-discovered-by-others/) [Mita Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mita-jain/) > [“The Butcher of Babylon featured in over 500 porn films between 1974 and 1982, and was best known for his motto: Come for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackman/the-butcher-of-babylon-featured-in-over-500-porn-films-between-1974/) [Mark Jackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackman/) > [“A hand closed around her arm, warm and hard, and it could possibly have been comforting if she had possessed the faintest idea whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/a-hand-closed-around-her-arm-warm-and-hard-and-it-could-possibly-have/) [Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/) > [“This sucks the hind teat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-grasso/this-sucks-the-hind-teat/) [Patricia Grasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-grasso/) > [“First month honey. . .Next month pie. . .Third month. . .Get out here and work, you damn bitch, same as I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-cecil-smith/first-month-honey-next-month-pie-third-month-get-out-here-and-work/) [Karen Cecil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-cecil-smith/) [Browse all 119 Humorous-quotations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous-quotations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“... but some say that reality is what happens inside a writer's head, and it is fiction which takes place outside it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barry A. Whittingham" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-a-whittingham/but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happens-inside-a-writer-s-head-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Humorous-quotations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-a-whittingham/but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happens-inside-a-writer-s-head-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/barry-a-whittingham-77157_humorous-quotations_but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happen_2764825.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/barry-a-whittingham-77157_humorous-quotations_but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happen_2764825.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/886/barry-a-whittingham-77157_humorous-quotations_but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happen_2764825.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“... but some say that reality is what happens inside a writer's head, and it is fiction which takes place…” — Barry A. Whittingham", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barry A. Whittingham", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-a-whittingham/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“... but some say that reality...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-a-whittingham/but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happens-inside-a-writer-s-head-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-a-whittingham/but-some-say-that-reality-is-what-happens-inside-a-writer-s-head-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```