Being real Quote by Neil Gaiman
“There are characters in some short stories who exist as people, and there are other characters in different short stories who exist as purely literary constructs. You know, the young man in "Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire" - I probably got that right - is a literary construct, and enjoys being a literary construct. He has no life off stage, whereas the young men in "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" were as near to being real human beings as I could possibly get them.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 2020 discussion on literary constructs
Some story characters are mere constructs, others feel real; distinction affects narrative impact
In simple terms: Characters vary from constructs to lifelike
Key Takeaway
Recognize depth of character creation
Themes
literature
fiction
metafiction
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
Narrative theory
character development
Questions to Reflect On
- How do constructs influence reader connection?
- When does a construct become relatable?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on construct may limit empathy
![“[T]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19e/neil-gaiman-29_amused_t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every_4551.jpg)
