Given that external reality is a fiction, the writer’s role is almost superfluous. He does not need to invent the fiction because it is already there.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that the world around us is not entirely real, but rather a made-up story. As a result, the writer's job of creating new stories becomes less important, since the fictional world already exists. This means the writer doesn't need to come up with new ideas, but can simply observe and describe the "fiction" that is already present in our reality.
About J. G. Ballard
J.G. Ballard was an acclaimed English novelist known for his psychologically provocative works that explored the relationships between human psychology, technology, sex, and mass media. He first gained recognition for his post-apocalyptic science fiction novels and later courted controversy with experimental stories and novels, eventually winning broad critical acclaim for his semi-autobiographical novel ‘Empire of the Sun’.
More quotes from J. G. Ballard
Electronic aids, particularly domestic computers, will help the inner migration, the opting out of reality. Reality is no longer going to be the stuff out there, but the stuff inside your head. It’s going to be commercial and nasty at the same time.
British novelist (1930-2009)
The American Dream has run out of gas. The car has stopped. It no longer supplies the world with its images, its dreams, its fantasies. No more. It’s over. It supplies the world with its nightmares now: the Kennedy assassination, Watergate, Vietnam.
British novelist (1930-2009)
I would sum up my fear about the future in one word: boring. And that’s my one fear: that everything has happened; nothing exciting or new or interesting is ever going to happen again… the future is just going to be a vast, conforming suburb of the soul.
British novelist (1930-2009)
In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom!
British novelist (1930-2009)
Everything is becoming science fiction. From the margins of an almost invisible literature has sprung the intact reality of the 20th century.
British novelist (1930-2009)
Science and technology multiply around us. To an increasing extent they dictate the languages in which we speak and think. Either we use those languages, or we remain mute.
British novelist (1930-2009)
What our children have to fear is not the cars on the highways of tomorrow but our own pleasure in calculating the most elegant parameters of their deaths.
British novelist (1930-2009)
Given that external reality is a fiction, the writer’s role is almost superfluous. He does not need to invent the fiction because it is already there.
British novelist (1930-2009)
Any fool can write a novel but it takes real genius to sell it.
British novelist (1930-2009)
A widespread taste for pornography means that nature is alerting us to some threat of extinction.
British novelist (1930-2009)