fictionthe

Fictionthe is a neologism used in discussions of narrative theory and digital storytelling to denote a method or stance that treats fictional content as a tractable object of analysis and design. The term blends fiction with theory, signaling an approach that combines literary analysis with theoretical modeling, data-driven critique, and systematic world-building.

The concept emphasizes modularity and reproducibility: stories and world-building elements are described as distinct units with properties that can be manipulated to test hypotheses about narrative effects, reader reception, and plausibility. Proponents use fictionthe to examine how internal logic, character behavior, and plot constraints shape perceived realism, emotional engagement, and coherence, including in AI-generated or interactive fiction.

Origins are informal; the term appears in online communities and some early 2020s scholarly discussions about digital humanities, game studies, and related fields. It is not universally defined, and definitions vary from a focus on formal description of story elements to a broader stance that fiction should be treated as a hypothesizable system akin to a model in the sciences.

Criticism notes that fictionthe can be vague or overlapping with existing concepts such as metafiction, narratology, world-building, or simulation theory. Supporters argue that it offers a useful frame for comparing different narrative systems and for evaluating the impact of design choices on reader experience.

See also: metafiction, narratology, world-building, interactive fiction, digital humanities.