Try any goddam thing you like, no matter how boringly normal or outrageous. If it works, fine. If it doesn't, toss it. Toss it even if you love it.
Stephen KingRead
The important question has nothing to do with whether the talk in your story is sacred or profane; the only question is how it rings on the page and in your ear. If you expect it to ring true, then you must talk yourself. Even more important, you must shut up and listen to others talk.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The essence of writing lies in authenticity and attentiveness to others' voices.
In this quote, Stephen King emphasizes the significance of genuine expression in storytelling, underscoring that the quality of dialogue is not defined by its categorization as sacred or profane. Instead, writers should focus on how their words resonate with readers and listeners, advocating for self-expression while also encouraging the importance of active listening to capture the richness of human experiences and voices.
Themes
WritingStorytellingDialogueListeningAuthenticity
In practice
Example use cases
In a creative writing workshop, a facilitator might quote this to encourage students to practice both writing and listening.
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