To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters the meaning of the object photographed.
Joan DidionRead
I have never started a novel - I mean except the first, when I was starting a novel just to start a novel - I've never written one without rereading Victory. It opens up the possibilities of a novel. It makes it seem worth doing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the importance of inspiration in the creative process, particularly in writing.
Joan Didion reflects on the role that revisiting another work, specifically 'Victory', plays in her writing process. She suggests that reading inspirational literature opens up new creative possibilities and motivates her to embark on the often challenging journey of writing a novel. This underscores the idea that writers can benefit from engaging with the works of others to rejuvenate their own creativity and reinforce their motivation.
Themes
WritingInspirationCreativityNovelMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
Using this quote in a workshop about artistic inspiration can motivate participants to explore their influences.
More from Joan Didion
All quotes →The truth is, it's easier for me to write than talk... to express the state I'm in at any time.
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Memories are what you no longer want to remember.
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It was clear, for example, in 1988 that the political process had already become perilously remote from the electorate it was meant to represent.
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I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?
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Do not whine... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.
Joan DidionRead
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