Fiction Quote by Wilkie Collins
“I have always held the old-fashioned opinion that the primary object of work of fiction should be to tell a story.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Woman in White, 1859
Fiction should primarily aim to tell an engaging story.
In simple terms: Storytelling is fiction’s main goal.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize narrative over didacticism.
Themes
narrative
entertainment
craft
Mood
analytical
considerate
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- teaching storytelling
Key Concepts
plot
character
structure
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance plot and theme?
- When should story serve a message?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on story can neglect deeper themes.
![“[E]verything is fiction. When you tell yourself the story of your life, the story of your day, you edit and rewrite and weave a narrative out of a collection of random experiences and events. Your conversations are fiction. Your friends and loved ones—they are characters you have created. And your…” quote by Keith Ridgway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4be/keith-ridgway-89468_communication_e-verything-is-fiction-when-you-tell-you_145036.jpg)
