Overthinker fact!

bethorien says it well. Lol. But A good lie is slightly unbelievable. That’s because the real truth has a tendency to be absurd. If a story is too believable- it’s very likely hiding fiction, because life is like a show with bad writers. Good writing tends to be tight, leads the reader to a logical end even if unexpected. Real life... not so much. Plot threads and stuff happening without build up or foreshadowing, absurdity and sloppiness. In truth most people don’t look for truth- they look for what they want or expect to hear. If you’re CONSISTENT in building expectations you just have to give what they expect. If people think you’re an idiot, and you tell a story, and they say: “Waaait... why would you drive that route when this one makes more sense...” or “why would you get in the shower with your clothes still on...?” If you’re a known idiot- a simple shrug and a “you know me...” makes your nonsense believable true or not.

So a lie simply must be consistent with your character- not your self image, but other people’s image of you. If a person has seen you fight a goose to get a minigiolf ball back, and you say you’re late for dinner because a marmot was giving you the mad eyeball- they’ll likely buy it.