All worthy work is open to interpretations the author did not intend. Art isn't your pet -- it's your kid. It grows up and talks back to you.
Joss WhedonRead
I write for fanboy moments. I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm afraid of. I write to do all the things the viewers want too. So the intensity of the fan response is enormously gratifying. It means I hit a nerve.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the author's motivation for writing and the joy that comes from connecting with fans.
In this quote, Joss Whedon reflects on the multifaceted reasons behind his writing. He writes not only as a means of personal expression and strength but also to embody characters and explore fears. The gratification he feels from the response of fans indicates that his work resonates deeply with his audience, validating his creative journey and the emotional depth of his storytelling.
Themes
WritingStrengthCharactersFearAudience
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the emotional impact of storytelling during a panel.
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I designed 'Buffy' to be an icon, to be an emotional experience, to be loved in a way that other shows can't be loved. Because it's about adolescence, which is the most important thing people go through in their development, becoming an adult.
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My dad would go to work every day and write in a room full of funny people. He enjoyed it. I know great writers who find the process agonising but to me, writing has always been sheer joy.
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I loved the idea of a girl going into a dark alley, and a monster comes, and then she just aces him. It’s like, you want to see the tiny person suddenly take control. God, my whole career is basically about that!
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Limitations are something that I latch onto - like working in genre, or if you're writing TV, there are act breaks, there's a length of time it's supposed to be. The restrictions of budget and sets can be really useful. When you can have everything, it's very hard to make things feel real and lived in.
Joss WhedonRead
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