--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is only in fiction that the…" description: "\"“It is only in fiction that the protagonist moves in a single minded, one point focus, screening out everything that isn't related to the plot. Real pe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/susan-wittig-albert-23595_fiction_it-is-only-in-fiction-that-the-protagoni_2572655.jpg" --- # It is only in fiction that the protagonist moves in a… ![“It is only in fiction that the protagonist moves in a single minded, one point focus, screening out everything that isn't related to the plot. Real people have to deal with the Myrtles of this world, who have sciatica and cold sores and want to tell you about them” quote by Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/susan-wittig-albert-23595_fiction_it-is-only-in-fiction-that-the-protagoni_2572655.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/susan-wittig-albert-23595_fiction_it-is-only-in-fiction-that-the-protagoni_2572655.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/susan-wittig-albert-23595_fiction_it-is-only-in-fiction-that-the-protagoni_2572655.jpg) > ““It is only in fiction that the protagonist moves in a single minded, one point focus, screening out everything that isn't related to the plot. Real people have to deal with the Myrtles of this world, who have sciatica and cold sores and want to tell you about them”” [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fiction often isolates characters in single‑minded focus, unlike real life filled with mundane problems. **In simple terms:** Stories simplify focus, real life is messy. Key Takeaway Balance focus with real‑world complexity. Themes fiction focus real life complexity Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary observational When to use this quote - writing - storytelling - daily challenges Key Concepts narrative focus human condition Questions to Reflect On - How do you manage distractions? - Can focus enhance storytelling? A Different Perspective Real life’s distractions can hinder narrative clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Protagonist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protagonist/) ## Related quotes > [“What was the point of having a situation worthy of fiction if the protagonist didn't behave as he would have done in a book?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/what-was-the-point-of-having-a-situation-worthy-of-fiction-if-the/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [As regards plot I find real life no help at all. Real life seems to have no plots. And as I think a plot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivy-compton-burnett/as-regards-plot-i-find-real-life-no-help-at-all-real-life-seems-to/) [Ivy Compton-Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivy-compton-burnett/) > [Each time I'm starting to work on a film, even if I love to settle the plot in the real world, I start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnaud-desplechin/each-time-i-m-starting-to-work-on-a-film-even-if-i-love-to-settle-the/) [Arnaud Desplechin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnaud-desplechin/) > [I write what I like to read, and I enjoy love triangles in YA and adult fiction - not to mention in other media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kresley-cole/i-write-what-i-like-to-read-and-i-enjoy-love-triangles-in-ya-and/) [Kresley Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kresley-cole/) > [“You're both the fire and the water that extinguishes it. You're the narrator, the protagonist, and the sidekick. 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Once he does so, one of two things will happen: He will either transform into a butterfly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-james/think-of-a-caterpillar-entering-a-cocoon-once-he-does-so-one-of-two/) [Steven James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-james/) > [I think for some reason we're conditioned in movies that the protagonist must be heroic or redeemable in some way, whereas in theater, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-think-for-some-reason-we-re-conditioned-in-movies-that-the/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [I always find something in common with my protagonist, particularly when I write in the first person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-giffin/i-always-find-something-in-common-with-my-protagonist-particularly/) [Emily Giffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-giffin/) > [Mindi Scott has a real talent for getting inside her protagonist's head. She sketches out Coley's story in grand swathes, and then paints in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-benson/mindi-scott-has-a-real-talent-for-getting-inside-her-protagonist-s/) [Amber Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-benson/) > [You can, I think, have a quiet and steady protagonist and not run the risk of terminal dullness as long as exciting things happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-williams/you-can-i-think-have-a-quiet-and-steady-protagonist-and-not-run-the/) [Liz Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-williams/) > [When the machine of a human being is turned on, it seems to produce a protagonist, just as a television produces an image.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/when-the-machine-of-a-human-being-is-turned-on-it-seems-to-produce-a/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [In 'Yours Truly,' I was the centre of the story; I was the protagonist. 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Even more remarkably, this healing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/the-healing-that-can-grow-out-of-the-simple-act-of-telling-our/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [“if we are aiming to be genuinely self-reliant, we must learn to embrace uncertainty and anxiety. If we fail, there will be nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/if-we-are-aiming-to-be-genuinely-self-reliant-we-must-learn-to/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [“So the badger poked up the fire, poured himself another cup of tea, and went back to the History to read the curious story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/so-the-badger-poked-up-the-fire-poured-himself-another-cup-of-tea-and/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [“Grown up at last and required to live all day long in the real world, it now seemed to Beatrix that imaginary fairies were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/grown-up-at-last-and-required-to-live-all-day-long-in-the-real-world/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [“Maude regards the ones who don't make it as her own personal failures. 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When they learn the real truth, they're all of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/does-that-mean-you-re-prepared-to-deal-with-whatever-turns-up-people/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [We are the only ones who can tell our stories because we are the only ones who have lived them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/we-are-the-only-ones-who-can-tell-our-stories-because-we-are-the-only/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [I am often surprised when I think to count my graces, for the more I count, the more there seem to be. And if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/i-am-often-surprised-when-i-think-to-count-my-graces-for-the-more-i/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [Music keeps time and defies time, simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/music-keeps-time-and-defies-time-simultaneously/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [The healing that can grow out of the simple act of telling our stories is often quite remarkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/the-healing-that-can-grow-out-of-the-simple-act-of-telling-our-2/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) > [“And Miss Potter? Well, having believed in fairies when she was a child and continuing to believe in the creative power of the imagination,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-wittig-albert/and-miss-potter-well-having-believed-in-fairies-when-she-was-a-child/) [Susan Wittig Albert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) [Explore all 25 Susan Wittig Albert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-wittig-albert/) ## More Fiction quotes > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn > [Fiction is a way of exploring possibilities present but undreamt of in the living of a single life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/fiction-is-a-way-of-exploring-possibilities-present-but-undreamt-of/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [I love writing fiction and can do it anywhere - I once even missed a flight because I was so engrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-love-writing-fiction-and-can-do-it-anywhere-i-once-even-missed-a/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) Coheed and Cambria > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“His hands on my waist he gently pulled me n embrace. I could feel his breath on my face our lips were about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eglinger/his-hands-on-my-waist-he-gently-pulled-me-n-embrace-i-could-feel-his/) [Nicole Eglinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eglinger/) > [In early drafts, one of the trickiest things for me to do was to realize that the techniques and devices that make readable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rooney/in-early-drafts-one-of-the-trickiest-things-for-me-to-do-was-to/) [Kathleen Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rooney/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Metafiction says something. It has to do with taking a large fiction itself and writing within it; that kind of self-reflecting writing that emerges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coover/metafiction-says-something-it-has-to-do-with-taking-a-large-fiction/) [Robert Coover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coover/) [Browse all 7,410 Fiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is only in fiction that the protagonist moves in a single minded, one point focus, screening out everything that isn't related to the plot. 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