Character Quote by Uwem Akpan
“For me, as I've said many times, the story is not research. The story is how the characters relate with each other and with the environment... I try to apply my imagination to what could have happened and how a little child could have viewed and processed the event.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Author discussion, 2020
The narrative focuses on character relationships and environmental context rather than pure research, using imagination to reconstruct events from a child's perspective.
In simple terms: Story emphasizes character ties and setting over data.
Key Takeaway
Explore relationships and setting creatively.
Themes
character
imagination
environment
storytelling
perspective
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
literary
educational
psychological
When to use this quote
- Writing workshops
- film script development
- educational curricula
- psychotherapy case studies
- museum exhibit design
Key Concepts
Narrative theory
psychology of memory
childhood perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How does imagination shape our understanding of past events?
- What ethical limits exist when interpreting a child's viewpoint?
A Different Perspective
May overlook factual accuracy and risk projecting adult interpretations onto child experiences.
