Writing for children is bloody difficult; books for children are as complex as their adult counterparts, and they should therefore be accorded the same respect.
Mark HaddonRead
Indeed, I am repeatedly astonished by the number of really good writers who understand human beings so well on paper but don't know how to deal with them in real life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the contrast between theoretical understanding of human nature and practical interpersonal skills.
Mark Haddon expresses a surprising observation about talented writers who possess deep insights into human behavior in their writing, yet struggle to apply that knowledge in real life when interacting with people. This suggests that understanding human complexity on paper does not necessarily translate to effective communication or relationships in reality.
Themes
WritingUnderstandingHuman BehaviorCommunicationInterpersonal Skills
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a writing workshop to emphasize the importance of applying character insights to real-life interactions.
More from Mark Haddon
All quotes →As to the number of novels I've abandoned... I shudder to think. I have thrown away five completed novels, and that's a gruesome enough figure. But not necessarily a waste of effort.
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At twenty life was like wrestling an octopus. Every moment mattered. At thirty it was a walk in the country. Most of the time your mind was somewhere else. By the time you got to seventy, it was probably like watching snooker on the telly.
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And Father said, "Christopher, do you understand that I love you?" And I said "Yes," because loving someone is helping them when they get into trouble, and looking after them, and telling them the truth, and Father looks after me when I get into trouble, like coming to the police station, and he looks after me by cooking meals for me, and he always tells me the truth, which means that he loves me.
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From a good book, I want to be taken to the very edge. I want a glimpse into that outer darkness.
Mark HaddonRead
And I know I can do this because I went to London on my own, and because I solved the mystery…and I was brave and I wrote a book and that means I can do anything.
Mark HaddonRead
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