We're always attracted to the edges of what we are, out by the edges where it's a little raw and nervy.
E. L. DoctorowRead
I like commas. I detest semi-colons - I don't think they belong in a story. And I gave up quotation marks long ago. I found I didn't need them, they were fly-specks on the page.
Interpretation
What this quote means
E. L. Doctorow expresses his preference for simplicity in writing by rejecting certain punctuation marks.
In this quote, E. L. Doctorow conveys his belief that excessive punctuation, such as semi-colons and quotation marks, can clutter writing and detract from the storytelling experience. He emphasizes a desire for minimalism, suggesting that a clean and straightforward narrative is more powerful and effective than one burdened by unnecessary symbols.
Themes
WritingPunctuationSimplicityStorytellingMinimalism
In practice
Example use cases
A writer's workshop encouraging participants to explore minimalistic writing styles.
More from E. L. Doctorow
All quotes →One of the things I had to learn as a writer was to trust the act of writing. To put myself in the position of writing to find out what I was writing.
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In fiction, you know, there are no borders. You can go anywhere.
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Books are acts of composition: you compose them. You make music: the music is called fiction.
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We are all good friends. Friendship is what endures. Shared ideals, respect for the whole character of a human being.
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I've known several cases of writers who decide to write about something and they research the hell out of it and when they're ready to write, they can't move because they are so burdened. I start writing. Whatever I need somehow comes to hand.
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