In her book "Off the Page," Jodi Picoult illustrates the vital connection between stories and their readers. She argues that a story is only truly complete when someone engages with it. Without a reader, the narrative remains dormant, akin to blueprints that lack construction, highlighting the essential role interpretation plays in storytelling.

This metaphor emphasizes that stories have the potential to create vivid worlds and evoke emotions only once a reader immerses themselves in the text. The words on the page serve as a foundation, waiting for the spark of imagination to bring them to life, underscoring the collaboration between the author and the reader in the narrative experience.