Attending Quote by Heidi Julavits
“I don't think fake people living in a fake house in a fake suburb are any less dismissible or believable than a fake psychic attending a fake school in a fake town. Nothing's inherently believable about any kind of fiction, because all of it's untrue.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, 2015
Fiction's credibility is irrelevant; all stories are invented, so belief hinges on narrative craft, not factual truth.
In simple terms: Fiction is always invented.
Focus on narrative quality.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- creative writing classes
- book clubs
- film adaptations
- media criticism
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does awareness of fiction affect engagement?
- Can a story feel true without factual basis?
Readers may still seek realism.