Maybe They'll Quote Me
Writers always have those memorable quotes -- like Mark Twain and his "the difference between the right word and almost the right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning bug." Or, there's E.L. Doctorow: "Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as the headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
That's good stuff.
Here's a quote I hope to be remembered for . . . (because I won't be remembered for my brevity):
Anymore, writers talk about craft -- and the result is often a lot of well-crafted nothings. Such pretty noise -- momentary and forgettable. Give me writing that risks going after a human truth -- even if it has its clunky parts. Writers should be at least one third philosopher -- otherwise, why bother?
That's good stuff.
Here's a quote I hope to be remembered for . . . (because I won't be remembered for my brevity):
Anymore, writers talk about craft -- and the result is often a lot of well-crafted nothings. Such pretty noise -- momentary and forgettable. Give me writing that risks going after a human truth -- even if it has its clunky parts. Writers should be at least one third philosopher -- otherwise, why bother?
posted by Jeff Vande Zande at 7:26 AM
1 Comments:
Jeff, you wax philosophical so well! I agree with your premise and wonder if it isn't an age and experience issue? I didn't have much to say of philosophical value at 17, 18, but at 40+ that's another story. It harks back to the idea that today it's the English teachers who get tasked with the need to teach students to think critically. I think this should be every teacher's objective. With all the media spewing constantly, how much time do people (young adult, adult, ?) take to ponder "the meaning of life"?
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