BETWEEN FICTION AND REALITY
Between Fiction and Reality
Fiction and reality have always had a strange relationship, like two mirrors facing each other that reflect endlessly until it’s hard to tell where one starts and the other ends. Every story we create comes from truth, and every truth we experience holds a bit of fiction. Between what is and what could be lies the spot where imagination and life intersect. That’s the space I love to explore.
As a writer, I often wonder why we share stories that aren’t “real.” Why do we create worlds, characters, and endings that exist only on paper? Maybe it’s because fiction allows us to express things that reality won’t let us say. Through a made-up story, we can confront the truths we fear, share the emotions we hide, or discover meaning in chaos. Sometimes, it’s easier to share the truth when it wears the mask of imagination.
But fiction doesn’t just mimic life—it shapes it. Every book we read and every story we believe slowly influences how we see the world. A child who reads about courage begins to see themselves as brave. A reader who follows a character through heartbreak learns that healing is possible. Stories may not change the facts of our lives, but they often change how we carry them.
Reality, however, gives fiction its heartbeat. The most powerful stories aren’t always filled with dragons or galaxies, but those that feel true, even when they seem impossible. They remind us that beneath every fantasy lies something human—love, loss, hope, fear, longing. We write fiction not to escape reality but to understand it from a different angle.
Sometimes, when I write fiction, I realize I’m uncovering a truth I didn’t know I believed. The characters may have different names, but their emotions resonate with mine. Their questions are my own. By shaping their journeys, I begin to understand my own choices and contradictions. Fiction becomes a mirror—one that reflects me more honestly than the real world ever could.
Perhaps reality isn’t as solid as we think. Every memory we hold is a type of fiction—edited, filtered, and reshaped by feelings. We remember moments not as they were but as they felt. In that sense, we are all storytellers, constantly rewriting our pasts and imagining our futures. Maybe that’s what makes being human so complex—we exist in both worlds at once.
Yet, there’s a risk in losing balance. When fiction turns into denial, we stop growing. When reality lacks imagination, we stop dreaming. The art of living lies somewhere in between: seeing the truth clearly while allowing space for possibility.
Between fiction and reality, there’s a narrow bridge made of words. Every story we write and every truth we live is a step across it. It’s where imagination meets honesty, where creation becomes understanding. That space—uncertain, delicate, and full of wonder—is where I feel most alive.
#VimtechAfrica #WritersContest
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.webp)
(0) Comment
(0) Comment