Skip to content

Experimentation Quote by John Cheever

“Fiction is experimentation; when it ceases to be that, it ceases to be fiction.” quote by John Cheever
Download Open image
“Fiction is experimentation; when it ceases to be that, it ceases to be fiction.”

John Cheever

About This Quote

Source Essay: "The Art of Fiction" by John Cheever, 1962

Fiction must remain experimental; without experimentation it loses its essence as fiction.

In simple terms: Fiction needs experimentation to stay true to its nature.

Key Takeaway

Keep fiction experimental.

Themes

creativity literature innovation

Mood

reflective critical

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

  • writing workshops
  • novel drafting
  • creative teaching
  • literary criticism

Key Concepts

postmodernism artistic freedom

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can writers balance experimentation with coherence?
  • When does experimentation hinder storytelling?
A Different Perspective

If experimentation becomes formulaic, it may still fail to be true fiction.

4.6 out of 5 (6 ratings)

More by John Cheever

Explore all 132 John Cheever quotes

More Experimentation quotes

Browse all 311 Experimentation quotes