Car Quote by Dave Eggers
“I always had a hard time with fiction. It does feel like driving a car in a clown suit. You're going somewhere, but you're in costume, and you're not really fooling anybody. You're the guy in costume, and everybody's supposed to forget that and go along with you. Obviously, it can work, it works all the time - well, it doesn't always work. Still, no matter what, I'm always looking at the form and addressing it, not ignoring it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Paris Review, 2015
Fiction can feel artificial, like wearing a costume that draws attention to its own artifice, making the writer constantly aware of form.
In simple terms: Fiction feels like a costume that highlights its own artifice.
Key Takeaway
Embrace form, but let story shine through.
Themes
writing
self-awareness
authenticity
form
fiction
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
literary
meta-fictional
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- creative workshops
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
meta-fiction
narrative technique
authorial intent
Questions to Reflect On
- How does awareness of form affect your engagement?
- Can you balance authenticity with stylistic choices?
A Different Perspective
Readers may feel detached if form overwhelms content.
![“One of the things [fiction] does is lead you to recognize what you did not know before.” quote by Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d12/ursula-k-le-guin-138_doe_one-of-the-things-fiction-does-is-lead-y_596633.jpg)
