The deal is such that when I begin writing something, I open a door, and those characters come in, and then they won't leave, and so I live with them every day, all day. They are there with me when I'm driving my kids to school, when I'm standing in line at the grocery store.
Interpretation
The quote describes the immersive experience of a writer's imagination and the presence of characters in daily life.
Khaled Hosseini's quote speaks to the profound connection that a writer has with their characters. When he begins to write, a creative door opens, allowing the characters to enter his reality, making them a constant presence in his thoughts and experiences, even during mundane tasks. This illustrates the deep bond between the writer and their fictional creations, showcasing the blurred lines between imagination and reality.
In practice
A writer might use this quote to express the depth of their creative process during a book reading.
You're gutless. It's how you were made. And that's not such a bad thing because your saving grace is that you've never lied to yourself about it. Not about that. Nothing wrong with cowardice as long as it comes with prudence. But when a coward stops remembering who he is... God help him.
There was brotherhood between people who had fed from the same breast, a kinship that even time could not break. - Amir
I don't outline at all; I don't find it useful, and I don't like the way it boxes me in. I like the element of surprise and spontaneity, of letting the story find its own way.
And that's the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too.
Perspective [is] a luxury when your head [is] constantly buzzing with a swarm of demons.
The desert weed lives on, but the flower of spring blooms and wilts.
It was Chicago with its World's Fair which vivified the national desire for civic beauty.
I think what gets a poem going is an initiating line. Sometimes a first line will occur, and it goes nowhere; but other times - and this, I think, is a sense you develop - I can tell that the line wants to continue. If it does, I can feel a sense of momentum - the poem finds a reason for continuing.
The greatest story commandment is: Make me care.
It is the unspoken ethic of all magicians to not reveal the secrets.
One of the most important pieces of equipment, for the photographer who really wants to improve, is a great big wastepaper basket.
I make the most money, I think, in Russia and Paris, for the people of those countries are so willing to be amused, so eager to see something new and out of the ordinary.
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