Fiction vs. Reality

Reality can be painful, and that's where denial steps in; there are some things people don't want to see, but more, there are things people CAN'T see, because the truth simply hurts too much, or because it's so far outside of their experience and comprehension.

And I wonder if that's where fiction shines the brightest, and does its best work. If Boy A doesn't see he's being a jerk to Boy B, he can see Fictional Boy A being a jerk in a movie and realize: "Holy crap, I'M acting like that!" You can bypass all the blocks people have in their heads.

Not that that usually happens. *laugh* It's that rare brilliant story, that hits a person in that rare, perfect place where they're ready to hear...whatever they need to hear.

-Elizabeth Reuter
Author, The Demon of Renaissance Drive