I think that's one of the maybe under-discussed aspects of process - the difference between a good writing day and a bad one is the quality of the split-second decisions you made.
George SaundersRead
We have that illusion that we are 'deciding' what to make a character do, in order to 'convey our message' or something like that. But, at least in my experience, you are often more like a river-rafting guide who's been paid a bonus to purposely steer your clients into the roughest possible water.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote explores the idea that writers may not have as much control over their characters as they believe, suggesting that the process can feel like guiding a chaotic journey.
George Saunders uses the metaphor of a river-rafting guide to illustrate that the act of writing often involves navigating unpredictable waters rather than controlling the outcome directly. This reflects the complex nature of storytelling, where characters develop and make choices that can surprise even the author. The writer's role may be to facilitate these unexpected turns, embracing the chaos instead of imposing strict control in order to convey deeper truths.
Themes
WritingCharactersStorytellingCreativityChaos
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, to explain the unpredictable nature of character development.
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George SaundersRead
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