Fiction Quote by Caitlín R. Kiernan
““It is not the task of a writer to 'tell all,' or even to decide what to leave in, but to decide what to leave out. Whatever remains, that meager sum of this profane division, that's the bastard chimera we call a 'story.' I am not building, but cutting away. And all stories, whether advertised as truth or admitted falsehoods, are fictions, cleft from the objective facts by the aforementioned action of cutting away. A pound of flesh. A pile of sawdust. Discarded chips of Carrara marble. And what's left over. "Houses Under The Sea””
About This Quote
Storytelling is about deliberate omission; what is left after cutting away defines the narrative, revealing truth through absence.
In simple terms: Storytelling relies on what you leave out, not just what you include.
Key Takeaway
Focus on purposeful editing to shape meaning.
Themes
creativity
editing
truth
fiction
perception
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- film editing
- journalism
- novel drafting
Key Concepts
narrative structure
minimalism
subjectivity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does what you choose to cut away say about your perspective?
- How does omission shape audience understanding?
A Different Perspective
Excessive omission can obscure essential facts, risking misinterpretation.
