--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I like to mix the real and the imaginary…" description: "\"I like to mix the real and the imaginary. Sometimes it is characters inspired by real people I know or know of. Sometimes it is a named person from the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/dana-spiotta-11381_character_i-like-to-mix-the-real-and-the-imaginary_565109.jpg" --- # I like to mix the real and the imaginary. Sometimes it is… ![“I like to mix the real and the imaginary. Sometimes it is characters inspired by real people I know or know of. Sometimes it is a named person from the common cultural dreamscape. And it is tricky, because they have a lot of associated ideas that come with them, and a lot of actual facts.” quote by Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/dana-spiotta-11381_character_i-like-to-mix-the-real-and-the-imaginary_565109.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/dana-spiotta-11381_character_i-like-to-mix-the-real-and-the-imaginary_565109.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/107/dana-spiotta-11381_character_i-like-to-mix-the-real-and-the-imaginary_565109.jpg) > “I like to mix the real and the imaginary. Sometimes it is characters inspired by real people I know or know of. Sometimes it is a named person from the common cultural dreamscape. And it is tricky, because they have a lot of associated ideas that come with them, and a lot of actual facts.” [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blending real and imagined characters creates rich, layered storytelling. **In simple terms:** Mix real and imagined people for depth. Key Takeaway Use real inspiration to enrich fiction. Themes fiction creativity identity Mood creative ethical Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - writing workshops - character research - storyboarding Key Concepts narrative theory character development Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance fact and fiction? - What ethical lines exist when using real people? A Different Perspective Risk of misrepresenting real people. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“The writers we love often serve us through their comfort and example without their ever knowing it, and in this sense, they're as imaginary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-pron/the-writers-we-love-often-serve-us-through-their-comfort-and-example/) Patricio Pron > [Neither the true nor the false roots are always real; sometimes they are imaginary; that is, while we can always imagine as many roots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/neither-the-true-nor-the-false-roots-are-always-real-sometimes-they/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [From the first time I saw you I knew I was going to have real and/or imaginary sex with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/from-the-first-time-i-saw-you-i-knew-i-was-going-to-have-real-and-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are two kinds of Arctic problems, the imaginary and the real. Of the two, the imaginary are the most real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilhjalmur-stefansson/there-are-two-kinds-of-arctic-problems-the-imaginary-and-the-real-of/) [Vilhjalmur Stefansson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilhjalmur-stefansson/) > [The distinction between what is real and what is imaginary is not one that can be finely maintained ... all existing thing are ... imaginary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregg-braden/the-distinction-between-what-is-real-and-what-is-imaginary-is-not-one/) [Gregg Braden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregg-braden/) > [Some things can be both real and imaginary at the same time, . . . some lies can be true, . . . broken faith may be restored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/some-things-can-be-both-real-and-imaginary-at-the-same-time-some-lies/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [I have many characters inspired from real life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-agnihotri/i-have-many-characters-inspired-from-real-life/) [Vivek Agnihotri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-agnihotri/) > [ Designing the prints was very much like writing a story with characters, \[inspired by\] some of my my favorite icons of the time: Eva… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-moretti/designing-the-prints-was-very-much-like-writing-a-story-with/) [Mia Moretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-moretti/) > [The movies I make tend not to be quite reality but the characters are inspired by real people and they're always very personal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-anderson/the-movies-i-make-tend-not-to-be-quite-reality-but-the-characters-are/) [Wes Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-anderson/) > [It's true that it's a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-s-true-that-it-s-a-solitary-occupation-but-you-would-be-surprised/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [I like to create imaginary characters and events around a real historical situation. I want readers to feel: OK, this probably didn't happen, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/i-like-to-create-imaginary-characters-and-events-around-a-real/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [They are imaginary characters. But perhaps not solely the products of my imagination, since there are some aspects of the characters that relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/they-are-imaginary-characters-but-perhaps-not-solely-the-products-of/) [Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/) > [It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occupation-but-you-would-be/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [The novel is a meditation on existence as seen through the medium of imaginary characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-novel-is-a-meditation-on-existence-as-seen-through-the-medium-of/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Fiction has consisted either of placing imaginary characters in a true story, which is the Iliad, or of presenting the story of an individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-queneau/fiction-has-consisted-either-of-placing-imaginary-characters-in-a/) [Raymond Queneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-queneau/) ## More by Dana Spiotta > [My husband is a musician. He cooks and he's a chef but he also, he makes basement recordings. So many people in my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/my-husband-is-a-musician-he-cooks-and-he-s-a-chef-but-he-also-he/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [People think it's suspect and self-indulgent to make art, and I don't think that's true. Some people think you should be busy making something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/people-think-it-s-suspect-and-self-indulgent-to-make-art-and-i-don-t/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [Memory is not particularly linear - it is associative, repetitive, subjective and porous. But the writer needs to convey disorder and dysfunction without making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/memory-is-not-particularly-linear-it-is-associative-repetitive/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [I locate a great deal of the power of Occupy Wall Street in the name itself, 'Occupy Wall Street,' or '#OccupyWallStreet.' It works because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/i-locate-a-great-deal-of-the-power-of-occupy-wall-street-in-the-name/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [Although a great restaurant experience must include great food, a bad restaurant experience can be achieved through bad service alone. 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I guess that's why they call me the 'mean' aunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/i-like-to-buy-books-for-the-kids-in-my-family-i-guess-that-s-why-they/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [If you directly try to write about an idea, it will never be what you imagined. But if you're imagining through the building of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/if-you-directly-try-to-write-about-an-idea-it-will-never-be-what-you/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [The idea that you can live off the grid and just do your own thing is a very American idea - that you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/the-idea-that-you-can-live-off-the-grid-and-just-do-your-own-thing-is/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [I think there's a false division people sometimes make in describing literary novels, where there are people who write systems novels, or novels of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/i-think-there-s-a-false-division-people-sometimes-make-in-describing/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [Usually there is a paradox in what a character wants. A conflict is built deeply within them. 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Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. 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But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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