--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're writing a book that is going…" description: "\"When you're writing a book that is going to be a narrative with characters and events, you're walking very close to fiction, since you're using some of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/samuel-hynes-98301_believe_when-you-re-writing-a-book-that-is-going_1850451.jpg" --- # When you're writing a book that is going to be a narrative… ![“When you're writing a book that is going to be a narrative with characters and events, you're walking very close to fiction, since you're using some of the methods of fiction writing. You're lying, but some of the details may well come from your general recollection rather than from the particular…” quote by Samuel Hynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/samuel-hynes-98301_believe_when-you-re-writing-a-book-that-is-going_1850451.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/samuel-hynes-98301_believe_when-you-re-writing-a-book-that-is-going_1850451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33b/samuel-hynes-98301_believe_when-you-re-writing-a-book-that-is-going_1850451.jpg) > “When you're writing a book that is going to be a narrative with characters and events, you're walking very close to fiction, since you're using some of the methods of fiction writing. You're lying, but some of the details may well come from your general recollection rather than from the particular scene. In the end it comes down to the readers. If they believe you, you're OK. A memoirist is really like any other con man; if he's convincing, he's home. If he isn't, it doesn't really matter whether it happened, he hasn't succeeded in making it feel convincing.” Samuel Hynes ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memoir blurs fact and fiction; its success depends on convincing the reader, like a con artist. **In simple terms:** Memoirs mix truth and storytelling; Key Takeaway Make your story believable. Themes writing truth fiction memory persuasion Mood critical analytical skeptical Type Believe:0 Book:0 Books:0 Character:0 Convincing:0 Details:0 Ends:0 Events:0 Feels:0 Fiction:0 Fiction writing:0 Happened:0 Home:0 Ifs:0 Lying:0 Matter:0 May:0 Men:0 Method:0 Narrative:0 Particular:0 Reader:0 Recollection:0 Scene:0 Walking:0 Wells:0 Writer:0 Writing:0 Writing a book:0 Con Man:0 Writing Lying:0 Memoirist Really:0 Fiction Using:0 Going Narrative:0 When to use this quote - writing memoirs - publishing nonfiction - editing personal narratives Key Concepts narrative technique ethical storytelling authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - When does artistic license become deceit? - How much truth is needed to engage readers? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Con Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/con-man/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-writing/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Recollection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recollection/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing a book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-a-book/) ## Related quotes > [“Science fiction is about using speculative scenarios as a lens to examine the human condition.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-chiang/science-fiction-is-about-using-speculative-scenarios-as-a-lens-to/) [Ted Chiang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-chiang/) > [I found the success of 'In a Dark, Dark Wood' really distracting when I was writing 'The Woman in Cabin 10,' but in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ware/i-found-the-success-of-in-a-dark-dark-wood-really-distracting-when-i/) [Ruth Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ware/) > [Writing is not lying, nor is it theft. It is a journey and search for transparency between one’s words and one’s soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/writing-is-not-lying-nor-is-it-theft-it-is-a-journey-and-search-for/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [“Maybe everyone was part con man. Maybe everybody was in the game, and Phil just knew better than anyone else how to play.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-howard/maybe-everyone-was-part-con-man-maybe-everybody-was-in-the-game-and/) David Howard > [Long time ago I found out I am not special but just normal. Ever come across some body who thinks God talk to them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/long-time-ago-i-found-out-i-am-not-special-but-just-normal-ever-come/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Some of us know that looks aren't everything, Con Man." Because that's what he was--- a perfect con, tricking others into believing he should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-callihan/some-of-us-know-that-looks-aren-t-everything-con-man-because-that-s/) [Kristen Callihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-callihan/) > [When Edison first started out with his "crazy" idea for the light bulb, skeptics were unmoved. They called Thomas Edison a con man and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/when-edison-first-started-out-with-his-crazy-idea-for-the-light-bulb/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) > [“But the LOST narrative is uniquely intertwined with the Judeo-Christian story, and the beauty of Christianity is found in its unyielding proclamation that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-seay/but-the-lost-narrative-is-uniquely-intertwined-with-the-judeo/) [Chris Seay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-seay/) > [A good lawyer is part con man, part priest -- promising riches, threatening hell. My ethical rules are simple. I won't lie to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-levine/a-good-lawyer-is-part-con-man-part-priest-promising-riches/) [Paul Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-levine/) > [Every decent con man knows that the simplest truth is more powerful than even the most elaborate lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/every-decent-con-man-knows-that-the-simplest-truth-is-more-powerful/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“near-deserted parking lot, both buildings looking freshly painted and hopeful for a marina in which there were no yachts. The biggest boat moored at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/near-deserted-parking-lot-both-buildings-looking-freshly-painted-and/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [My father was a good man, but he was a con man. He was a wanderer, nomadic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-aiello/my-father-was-a-good-man-but-he-was-a-con-man-he-was-a-wanderer/) [Danny Aiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-aiello/) > [“My letters seeking a job, though truthful, diminished the full truth. Face would blanch if the facts had been complete: "Dear Sir," I thought.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bunker/my-letters-seeking-a-job-though-truthful-diminished-the-full-truth/) [Edward Bunker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bunker/) > [No one helped my grandparents when a con man stole our house, or when I needed help paying for a plane ticket to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/no-one-helped-my-grandparents-when-a-con-man-stole-our-house-or-when/) [Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/) > [“Inej knew the moment Kaz entered the Slat. His presence reverberated through the cramped rooms and crooked hallways as every thug, thief, dealer, con…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-knew-the-moment-kaz-entered-the-slat-his-presence-reverberated/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) ## More by Samuel Hynes > [It isn't often that a writer of superlative skills knows enough about flying to write well about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-hynes/it-isn-t-often-that-a-writer-of-superlative-skills-knows-enough-about/) Samuel Hynes Explore all 2 Samuel Hynes quotes ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're writing a book that is going to be a narrative with characters and events, you're walking very close to fiction, since you're using some of the methods of fiction writing. You're lying, but some of the details may well come from your general recollection rather than from the particular scene. In the end it comes down to the readers. If they believe you, you're OK. A memoirist is really like any other con man; if he's convincing, he's home. 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