This quote essentially suggests that unlike reality, which can be unpredictable and chaotic, fiction has to be logical and coherent. When writing a story, an author has to ensure that the plot makes sense to the readers. There need to be clear cause-and-effect relationships, characters need to behave in ways that are consistent with their established personalities, and any mysteries or questions raised in the story need to be eventually resolved. This is because readers expect a certain level of coherence and logic in fiction. They want to understand why things happen the way they do in the story.
In contrast, reality doesn’t have to make sense. Real life is often unpredictable and doesn’t follow a logical plot. Things happen without clear reasons, people behave inconsistently, and many questions remain unanswered. We accept these inconsistencies in reality because we know that life is complex and unpredictable. However, we are less tolerant of such inconsistencies in fiction because we expect fiction to be a simplified and more logical version of reality.
This idea can be applied in today’s world in various ways. For example, in the field of communication, this quote suggests the importance of making our messages clear and coherent. Whether we are giving a speech, writing a report, or making a presentation, we need to ensure that our message makes sense to our audience. We need to present our ideas in a logical order, provide clear explanations, and resolve any potential ambiguities. This is similar to how an author needs to make their story make sense to their readers.
In terms of personal development, this quote can inspire us to seek clarity and coherence in our own lives. While we cannot control the unpredictability of reality, we can strive to make sense of our own actions and decisions. We can aim to live our lives in a way that is consistent with our values and goals, and to make decisions that are based on clear reasoning. This is similar to how an author strives to create a coherent and logical plot in their story.
