Its fiction, It doesn't have to make sense?

Question

I saw someone write these exact words when answering a question today. They said that the writer didn't need to make sense because the book was fiction. When I read that I was absolutely appalled. Why do people think that a story being fiction means it doesn't have to make sense?

Answer 1

I agree. Whenever I see that [even published authors attempt to use that as an adequate excuse] I am slighly saddened by the level of intelligence in the world today.



My theory is that 'OH JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT REAL!' they think it doesn't have to be consistent.That it doesn't matter when *POOF*! *Wait, what? I thought she was a girl? WHY IS SHE A GUY NOW?*

*Wait, what? I thought vampires couldn't have babies! WTF?*



And it's also an excuse for when you KNOW there's an issue, but then you a) refuse to acknowledge it b) refuse to find a single little flaw in your favorite little book c) the author said it in her/his FAQ and you hang on said author's every little stinking word.

Answer 2

That way of thinking is the mark of a young writer and a young reader. I do think, that some people mean that fiction does not have to follow the rules and restrictions of the real world. Yes, there is a thing called creative license, but even when the author makes something up it still has to make sense within the story. If you are writing a fantasy novel, it doesn't make sense to put in machine guns. If you are writing a historical novel it doesn't make sense to put in a unicorn.



A writer can do anything they want to as long as they can make it make sense. If they can't make their story make sense then they should go back to the drawing board and start again until they get it right.



I think some of the young "writers" here on B&A use "it's fiction, it doesn't have to make sense." as an excuse to be lazy. They don't want to put any actual effort into what they are writing, they just want to be seen as a writer. They just want praise because they managed to string together more than three consecutive sentences, no matter how bad the writing may be.

Answer 3

I think that if a book is fiction it should still show part of reality with out being completely truthful. For example an author could write about a divorce with there spouse. They could keep the plot the same but change the names of characters and the setting to keep the real places and people private. To write a fiction or non-fiction book the characters , plot, setting, motivation of characters, and the theme need to be perfectly clear and understandable . If the book is not made that way it doesn't deserve to be published and is a piece of crap. I don't tell it how you like . I tell it how it is. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

Answer 4

I'm not sure that I agree.



I think that a story has to be fluid and make sense as far as plot line goes. I think there has to be an explanation for everything that happens. But as long as there is an explanation for what it happening, why can't something not make sense?



Aliens are fiction and they don't really make much sense, but that's fully within an author's right, isn't it? Why couldn't someone write a story about a group of Amish friends fighting a little known battle in World War II? I mean, that really doesn't make sense, but why isn't that within an author's right as a work of fiction?



I always took fiction to mean that an author can make whatever he/she wants, so long as it makes sense in the context of the fictional world.



If that is incorrect, what is fiction?



EDIT: I suppose I read the question in a different context. Thanks, Lyra! Originally, I thought this question implied that a fiction story had to make sense in the world we live in, but it's talking more about breaking a world's rules, no matter what the world is and justifying it with "it's fiction!"? I can understand that. And I would agree that you really can't do that. There are always rules you have to follow.

Answer 5

I don't know! I've seen that type of thing, too, and always in Twilight-related questions. God, it annoys me so much!



Obviously the people who say this are the type of people who know nothing about writing or books. They look at a book as just a story, completely overlooking the fact that books have (or at least should have) depth. And they know nothing about writing because if they did know, they'd know that even fantasy writers have rules that they need to adhere to. They don't understand that this has nothing to do with whether there's magic or not. It has to do with how realistic it is.



And people still say "it's fantasy, it's not supposed to be realistic." Ugh! The things people say!



Edit: "I always took fiction to mean that an author can make whatever he/she wants, so long as it makes sense in the context of the fictional world." That is what it means, Yankee. But people go on and on about how Renesmee's being born is completely valid because Meyer can do anything she wants, because it's fantasy. Which isn't true, because a fantasy story still has to be realistic. And what they don't understand is what realistic actually means. What you just said is what realistic means, "so long as it makes sense in the context of the fictional world."

Answer 6

In a way it does have to make sense. Like it can't just be a stream of nonsense words. Whover said it doesn't have to make sense probably means, it doesn't have to follow the rules of gravity, or it can be in an unknown and magical place. But then theres the fiction that tells a story that follows the ways of life, just with an unreal story. LikeCharles Dickens.

Answer 7

I've also had this said to me in B&A, and I chalk it up to amateur abilities. When people tell me that their stories don't have to make sense, I want to assume that they mean it doesn't have to follow every constraint of the current world.



However, I've also often found that they think that because it's fiction that they don't have to limit themselves in any way and that they can make things up willy-nilly as they go. I'm certain that any established writer will dispute that, and I don't understand how people can insist that their writing doesn't have to make sense. I wouldn't read something that didn't make sense.

Answer 8

That is absolutely awful. And, of course, a complete load of crock. Just because it didn't actually happen here doesn't mean it can make no sense. Of course in writing some fiction stories the rules of our reality are bent a bit, but never (in good writing) are they obliterated. We can only hope that person learns a bit more before they leave school - and God help us if it was an adult that said that!

Answer 9

For the same reason that they think they don't need to spell correctly, or use correct grammar or punctuation... i.e. because they are entitled brats who think they deserve praise regardless of the poor quality of their writing, so why bother spending time on it?



The real world is going to be a dreadful shock to these people.

Answer 10

hell no it doesnt. Maybe its a mad whaky world but it still has to make sense. If it doesnt make sense noone will unnderstand. Like Harry Potter. You can't just jump from scene to scene, you need to order it in your mind. IT NEEDS TO MAKE S-E-N-S-E! An easy way is trying to read it in another person's point of view and see if there are things u need to understand. If that's hard try showing it to other ppl and we'll see if they understand.

Answer 11

I know what you mean. Fiction to me means using concepts that do not exist (that we know of) but you still need to explain how/why they are real in the story.

Answer 12

Because they don't know anything about writing. Fiction doesn't mean you can pull whatever random sludge you can come up with out of your *** and call it literature.

Answer 13

Ridiculous notion, don't you think?



Just as silly as people saying that spelling and grammar are not important to a story.



I wouldn't even attempt to read something that made no sense. I don't think anybody would, including the person that said that.



I think he/she meant that it doesn't have to be real.