--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything that I can do to ground the…" description: "\"Everything that I can do to ground the story in reality helps make it harder for people to be dismissive of it.\" — Robert J. Sawyer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/robert-j-sawyer-3858_everything_everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-s_2639323.jpg" --- # Everything that I can do to ground the story in reality… ![“Everything that I can do to ground the story in reality helps make it harder for people to be dismissive of it.” quote by Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/robert-j-sawyer-3858_everything_everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-s_2639323.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/robert-j-sawyer-3858_everything_everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-s_2639323.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/robert-j-sawyer-3858_everything_everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-s_2639323.jpg) > “Everything that I can do to ground the story in reality helps make it harder for people to be dismissive of it.” [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grounding stories in reality makes them harder to dismiss. **In simple terms:** Realism strengthens narrative impact. Key Takeaway Use factual details to reinforce storytelling. Themes realism storytelling credibility Mood analytical informative Type literary educational When to use this quote - historical fiction - science communication - educational media Key Concepts narrative technique cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How much realism is needed? - When does detail overwhelm story? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on facts can stifle imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) ## Related quotes > [Of course, any simplification runs the risk of mutilating reality; but it helps us establish perspectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/of-course-any-simplification-runs-the-risk-of-mutilating-reality-but/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [Every day, when my feet hit the ground, I have a story that I'm telling myself that I choose to make a positive story.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-russell/every-day-when-my-feet-hit-the-ground-i-have-a-story-that-i-m-telling/) [David O. Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-russell/) > [When I was going out and trying to fully give glory to God, in my setting, I feared that people would be dismissive of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/when-i-was-going-out-and-trying-to-fully-give-glory-to-god-in-my/) [Chance The Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/) > [Sometimes indifference can be so erotic. I think the people who are most dismissive of you get the most of your attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/sometimes-indifference-can-be-so-erotic-i-think-the-people-who-are/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I used to respond to people who are dismissive of my work, but as I grow older, I think it's best to ignore your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/i-used-to-respond-to-people-who-are-dismissive-of-my-work-but-as-i/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [A lot of people have been very dismissive of me. I'm hardly the darling of the NME. It used to get me down a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/a-lot-of-people-have-been-very-dismissive-of-me-i-m-hardly-the/) [Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/) > [There are people who are very dismissive of games and gamers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mcgonigal/there-are-people-who-are-very-dismissive-of-games-and-gamers/) [Jane McGonigal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mcgonigal/) > [“There is such a thing as robbing a story of its reality by trying to make it too true...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-is-such-a-thing-as-robbing-a-story-of-its-reality-by-trying-to/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Before you can read, you know the difference between a story and reality. And, of course, by the time you're old enough to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/before-you-can-read-you-know-the-difference-between-a-story-and/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [I think this takes a lot of courage and integrity to find your own voice and way to express not only your story, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danae-elon/i-think-this-takes-a-lot-of-courage-and-integrity-to-find-your-own/) Danae Elon > [All the best stories are but one story in reality - the story of escape. It is the only thing which interests us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-benson/all-the-best-stories-are-but-one-story-in-reality-the-story-of-escape/) [A. C. Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-benson/) > [I'm hoping that The Story of Reality will fill in more details for the Christian believer and will create a crisis of faith for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-koukl/i-m-hoping-that-the-story-of-reality-will-fill-in-more-details-for/) [Greg Koukl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-koukl/) > [All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality - the story of escape. It is the only thing which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-the-best-stories-in-the-world-are-but-one-story-in-reality-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You’re cramming a few chance data points into a story that has nothing to do with reality. You need to take a giant step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/you-re-cramming-a-few-chance-data-points-into-a-story-that-has/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“The effect your readers want is for what they read to trigger in them the sights and sounds and smells of what's happening in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-rhamey/the-effect-your-readers-want-is-for-what-they-read-to-trigger-in-them/) Ray Rhamey ## More by Robert J. Sawyer > [Naturally, one does not normally discuss plans to commit murder with the intended victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/naturally-one-does-not-normally-discuss-plans-to-commit-murder-with/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Not wanting to die was another universal constant, it seemed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/not-wanting-to-die-was-another-universal-constant-it-seemed/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I'm much more interested in writing about the things that engage and enrage me as an adult rather than in wallowing in childhood sorrows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/i-m-much-more-interested-in-writing-about-the-things-that-engage-and/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Our job is not to predict the future. Rather, it's to suggest all the possible futures - so that society can make informed decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/our-job-is-not-to-predict-the-future-rather-it-s-to-suggest-all-the/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [That natural selection can produce changes within a type is disputed by no one, not even the staunchest creationist. But that it can transform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/that-natural-selection-can-produce-changes-within-a-type-is-disputed/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [“You really did uplift me. You gave me the perspective and point of view and focus I needed to become truly conscious. Without you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/you-really-did-uplift-me-you-gave-me-the-perspective-and-point-of/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I'm often characterized as an optimistic writer, and certainly my 'Neanderthal Parallax' and 'WWW' trilogies shade toward the utopian. I like to think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/i-m-often-characterized-as-an-optimistic-writer-and-certainly-my/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I started wondering why it is that people line up behind charismatic leaders. It's easy to understand the emergence of a figure who's narcissistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/i-started-wondering-why-it-is-that-people-line-up-behind-charismatic/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [When you're changing centuries, people get curious about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/when-you-re-changing-centuries-people-get-curious-about-the-future/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Real people are complex, contradictory, and have their own motivations - they can't just be mouthpieces for the writers' point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/real-people-are-complex-contradictory-and-have-their-own-motivations/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [“All right,” he said. “Since you asked, Webmind is an emergent quantum-computational system based on a stable null-sigma condensate that resists decoherence thanks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/all-right-he-said-since-you-asked-webmind-is-an-emergent-quantum/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Social progress is a big thing for me. Although science fiction is traditionally concerned with the hard sciences, which is chemistry, physics, and, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/social-progress-is-a-big-thing-for-me-although-science-fiction-is/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Fiction is all about vicarious experiences and getting into other people's heads in a way that no other art form lets you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/fiction-is-all-about-vicarious-experiences-and-getting-into-other/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [Secrecy was the problem; transparency the obvious cure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/secrecy-was-the-problem-transparency-the-obvious-cure/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [I'm a member of the Writers Guild of America and the Writers Guild of Canada.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/i-m-a-member-of-the-writers-guild-of-america-and-the-writers-guild-of/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) [Explore all 116 Robert J. Sawyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) ## More Everything quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [If you think you're doing everything right, then you have a tendency to stand pat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/if-you-think-you-re-doing-everything-right-then-you-have-a-tendency/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [The Fringe is by far my favorite time of year; I like everything about it. But there are people I know who are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-horne/the-fringe-is-by-far-my-favorite-time-of-year-i-like-everything-about/) [Alex Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-horne/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [Of everything I have done, 'The Archers' always gets the most excitement; there's a sort of uncontrollable joy from fans of the program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/of-everything-i-have-done-the-archers-always-gets-the-most-excitement/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [That's one of my idols, I really look up to Pacquiao. This guy is everything I would want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-garcia/that-s-one-of-my-idols-i-really-look-up-to-pacquiao-this-guy-is/) [Ryan Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-garcia/) > [The talk shows in the States want celebrities, not authors. In France, it is different; writers are called upon to comment on everything. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/the-talk-shows-in-the-states-want-celebrities-not-authors-in-france/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [Everything I write is highly personal, but put in such a way that it's not dropping everything in someone's lap. Although sometimes I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-siberry/everything-i-write-is-highly-personal-but-put-in-such-a-way-that-it-s/) [Jane Siberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-siberry/) > [Everything I have experienced and learned in football led me towards one day becoming a coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/everything-i-have-experienced-and-learned-in-football-led-me-towards/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [It's funny, everything is so much easier when you do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/it-s-funny-everything-is-so-much-easier-when-you-do-it-yourself/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [Everything affects hip-hop. The question is, how does it affect the money that corporations are going to invest to put out different kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/everything-affects-hip-hop-the-question-is-how-does-it-affect-the/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [If God is first, and you kind of center everything else around Him being the main focal point, you really can make decisions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-michalka/if-god-is-first-and-you-kind-of-center-everything-else-around-him/) [AJ Michalka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-michalka/) Browse all 13,134 Everything quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everything that I can do to ground the story in reality helps make it harder for people to be dismissive of it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert J. Sawyer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-story-in-reality-helps-make-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Everything" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-story-in-reality-helps-make-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/robert-j-sawyer-3858_everything_everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-s_2639323.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/robert-j-sawyer-3858_everything_everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-s_2639323.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75a/robert-j-sawyer-3858_everything_everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-s_2639323.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everything that I can do to ground the story in reality helps make it harder for people to be dismissive of…” — Robert J. Sawyer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert J. Sawyer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Everything that I can do to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-story-in-reality-helps-make-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/everything-that-i-can-do-to-ground-the-story-in-reality-helps-make-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```