"Fiction is experimentation; when it ceases to be that, it ceases to be fiction"

In this quote, author John Cheever is highlighting the value of experimentation in fiction writing. He recommends that the essence of fiction depends on its ability to push limits and check out new ideas, instead of just complying with recognized norms. Cheever thinks that when fiction stops being a form of experimentation, it loses its true function and ends up being something else entirely. This quote functions as a tip to authors to continuously challenge themselves and their readers by taking threats and believing outside the box. It likewise stresses the vibrant and ever-evolving nature of fiction, as it continues to progress and push the borders of what is possible.