As a writer, a little subgenre of fiction called metafiction has always picked my interest. Metafiction is fiction that's self-aware, in which, in some way shape and form the story acknowledges itself as fiction. Characters may address the idea that they are mere characters in a book. Often times, it's a commentary on the creative process or utilizing elements of writing within the narrative or possibly making some statement on the nature of stories and myths or story-telling. This often times is known as Breaking the Fourth Wall. This concept isn't only exclusive to books but occurs in film and television, and especially put to use in Netflix's new original series House of Cards as Kevin Spacey smugly talks to US while no one notices.
It is the blurring of reality and fiction, breaking that illusionary wall that separates audience and story, writer and reader, created and observers. And, to me, what is particularly fascinating about this concept is the idea that EVERYTHING can play a part in the narrative, that YOU are a participant in the story whether you know it or not just by the fact you are reading it.
To me, there's almost an underlying spiritual tone to this. That we are all writers and readers, being observed and observing. We are all books being read and partially written; that we are, to degree, all authors and our lives are bound on a canvas/page/template the size of the universe.
