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How does an author make a fiction story sound like truth? It’s even more difficult in a world that’s entirely made up, like those in science fiction and fantasy stories. The key is to know your authority source. Howard V. Hendrix, author and professor, explains what an authority source is and why it’s important. An authority source is the thing at the core of a story that lends the author his or her credibility. In science fiction, our understanding of the natural sciences provides the author source. This is in contrast to fantasy novels, which has magic as its authority source. And while these two are the most obvious authority sources, every genre has its own authority sources. Hendrix gives the example of Milton’s Paradise Loss and says that its authority source is the deep knowledge of Christian scripture. Watch the clip below to learn more about how to utilize your genre’s authority source to create a believable story that your readers love.