The fiction writer in me likes gaps in stories because I can jump into that gap and try to suggest something.
Marlon JamesRead
I'm not a writer on a mission, and I'm very suspicious of writers on missions, but I'm also not living a false life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses skepticism towards writers who claim to have a specific agenda, while affirming the value of authenticity in one's life.
In this quote, Marlon James conveys the complexity of being a writer. He expresses distrust for those who approach writing with a rigid mission or agenda, suggesting that such a mindset can lead to inauthenticity. However, he also highlights the importance of living truthfully, indicating that while he does not subscribe to being a mission-driven writer, he values sincere self-expression and honesty in life.
Themes
AuthenticityWritingMissionSkepticismLife
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a creative writing workshop to discuss the importance of authenticity in storytelling.
More from Marlon James
All quotes βIf your depiction of loss doesn't make the reader feel loss, then you didn't depict it right.
Marlon JamesRead
I always tell my students to complicate your characters: never make it easy for the reader. Nobody is ever one thing. That's what makes characters compelling.
Marlon JamesRead
Not every gay person recites poetry or has read Keats. You can get readers through anything if the characters are complicated. You can't dismiss Josey Wales' quite liberal worldview.
Marlon JamesRead
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