Much of life becomes background, but it is the province of art to throw buckets of light into the shadows and make life new again.
Diane AckermanRead
There's a half-conscious state you enter when you're actually generating prose, and you are simply a better writer in that place. In fact it's the only place where you even are a writer.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the unique state of flow that a writer experiences while creating, which enhances their writing ability.
John Jeremiah Sullivan highlights the importance of a specific mental state that writers enter when shaping their thoughts into prose. This 'half-conscious state' is crucial for creativity and authenticity, suggesting that true writing comes from a place beyond ordinary consciousness, where the writer can fully embody their role and tap into deeper ideas and emotions.
Themes
WritingCreativityProseMindsetAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a writing workshop to inspire participants to embrace their creative state.
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