An anecdote is a short, self-contained story that usually highlights one particular theme, lesson, or aspect of a persons character. It is a quick story about something of interest, usually with a singular theme or lesson. Anecdotes are no different than the stories told among friends, but when they’re used in literature, they can exist independently or be embedded in a larger work. Anecdotes can be true or fictional (or somewhere in between when it comes to exaggeration), and their tone can range from serious warnings to lighthearted jokes. Anecdotes are most often told through speech; they are spoken rather than written down. Anecdotes are valuable literary devices because of their diversity in style, tone, and utility—they can be used by almost any person, in any situation, in any genre. Anecdotes make conversations or dialogue more personal and interesting, and they can aid in characterization of the teller and/or their subject. Anecdotes are used to add dramatic nuance to dialogue, and they can be used to slow the pacing or fill in gaps within the core storyline.