A lot of time you’ll write a story and a beta reader, agent, editor or reviewer will say, “This is not believable.” And a lot of time, you’ll tweet something and some rando on Twitter will say, “WTF. You lie.” And a lot of time, you’ll just be telling a story at a party (or during Zoom in COVID times) and people will say, “No way! No freaking way.” This can be annoying especially when you’re trying to sell a book and you get that note. Why Does This Happen? Sometimes people react that way because their world and experience doesn’t mesh with your own and they don’t understand that everyone in Downeast Maine calls everyone else “Darling,” even straight men say it to other straight men. Sometimes it’s because you just haven’t suspended disbelief for them. This happens in real life, too. Sometimes Lies Aren’t Believable This man who used to be a Houston police officer (He resigned January 14.) went into the Capitol Building on January 6. And when he was interviewed, he ...