Imagine what it was to streak across the Quadrangle of UC Davis under Nixon in 1973-4. The campus cops had more or less agreed to let the young man, or men, eventually woman/women, do their trick and only "capture" them when they were finished because it was fun. And that is not fiction since I was there then and I saw it all happen. That wa just fun but once again no fiction.

Fiction is totally imaginary, that is to say, it is not the description of real events but of fictional events that did not happen, hence imagined as not real events. Stephen King when writing his novel on Kennedy's assassination was based on real facts, and yet it is all fiction, especially since the main character comes from the 21st century. Yet, I am told the price of beef in Kennedy's time has been researched and is what it was, but all that is fiction.

Fiction is a literary genre that's created from imagination, while imagination is a general concept that can refer to both phenomenal and experiential imagination:

Fiction

A literary work that's based on imagination rather than fact, such as a novel or short story. Fiction is the opposite of nonfiction, which is a literary genre that consists of historically accurate narratives about real people or events.

Imagination

A general concept that can refer to both phenomenal and experiential imagination.

The word "fiction" means a genre , which means "the act of making, fashioning, or molding",in general terms a novel whereas imagination is an individual experience of fancy

The confusions about the meaning of the two terms results from their careless use and their complex associations. The term "fiction" is a synonym for "story," which is synonymous in some contexts with "myth." As such both are synonymous in some contexts with "falsehood" and even "lie." In general the term "fiction" refers to "something made up," or "conjured," or "invented" by the mind. A fiction may or may not have anything to do with "fact."

"Imagination" is a term used to suggest the mental source of a "fiction." Several writers have tried to explain this operations of "imagination." S.T. Coleridge notably makes a distinction between "imagination" and "fancy," with "imagination" being the "higher" power because it aims to tell the truth, whereas "fancy" conjures untrue frivolities. This distinction seems lost on many today.

In general Coleridge would argue that "imagination" takes us to complex realities by way of "creativity" (usually synonymous with innovative approaches), and may be the basis for "fictions" that tell truths not otherwise revealed. Others use the term "fiction" more promiscuously, making no distinction between a fantastic story (or "fiction") with no basis in truth or fact, and one that tells us important things about ourselves and the world, in creative, or complexly innovative, ways.

Fiction and imagination ar broadly one thing. It's like a man and a woman. They are similar but different.

Fiction and imagination are broadly one thing. It's like a man and a woman. They are similar but different. respond. So, imagination is closer to non-fiction, but whether it's fiction or imagination, you will always use imagination.

So, fiction is what you get when you imagine. In fiction, you imagine by creating unreal content. With non-fiction imagination, you try to use truthful information.

ربما تقصد بالخيال هي العملية الذهنية التي يقوم بها الإنسان، فهي لا تترجم على هيئة كلمات، بينما التخييل هو عندما يترجم ما في الذهن إلى كلمات مكتوبة، ولذلك أخذ البلاغيون كلمة التخييل للاستعارة والتشبيه، فيتخيل الأديب أمرا معينا ثم يسطره بالألفاظ والكلمات، وإن كان هذا رأي المتواضع فقد كان هناك اختلافات كثيرة وجوهرية في تحديد الفرق بين الخيال والتخيييل.

Fiction is a genre in Literature,whereas Imagination is an important factor in each domain in fiction:poetry, novel,novella,short story(and very short story)and drama.

I think it's also important outside of literature.

Imagination is the wellspring of all creativity—boundless and intimate, akin to an unmarked canvas brimming with infinite potential. Fiction emerges when these abstract notions crystallize, transforming into narratives or works designed for shared experience.

Imagination embodies the vision; fiction is the articulation.