Lists & hierarchies

Before we move on, the point of this digression is not to teach you to be a better liar!

But... when you're writing fiction, for example, then you are effectively trying to make something false seem believable.

What's the difference between fiction and deception?

Basically, it's about consent:

• In fiction, the writer and reader have a tacit agreement that while the details of the story are not real, the writer will try to make them seem real.
• In deception, there is no such agreement. The reader assumes the writer is telling the truth, and the writer introduces falsehood without the reader's consent.

So believability is a skill. Use it for good!