Death row is a nightmare to serial killers and ax murderers. For an innocent man, it's a life of mental torture that the human spirit is not equipped to survive.
John GrishamRead
Nobody wants to read about the honest lawyer down the street who does real estate loans and wills. If you want to sell books, you have to write about the interesting lawyers - the guys who steal all the money and take off. That's the fun stuff.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Engaging storytelling often focuses on the extraordinary rather than the mundane.
In this quote, John Grisham highlights the appeal of dramatic and exciting narratives over the commonplace reality, suggesting that readers are drawn to stories that feature conflict and intrigue. While honesty is important, the allure of sensationalism captivates audiences more effectively, particularly in the realm of storytelling, where excitement prevails over the quotidian.
Themes
StorytellingDramaInterestLawyerNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, to illustrate the importance of drama in storytelling.
More from John Grisham
All quotes βAn outline is crucial. It saves so much time. When you write suspense, you have to know where you're going because you have to drop little hints along the way. With the outline, I always know where the story is going. So before I ever write, I prepare an outline of 40 or 50 pages.
John GrishamRead
I seriously doubt I would ever have written the first story had I not been a lawyer. I never dreamed of being a writer. I wrote only after witnessing a trial.
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Writing's still the most difficult job I've ever had - but it's worth it.
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Ten years from now I plan to be sitting here, looking out over my land. I hope I'll be writing books, but if not, I'll be on my pond fishing with my kids. I feel like the luckiest guy I know.
John GrishamRead
I used to walk in a bookstore and see all these books on the walls. And I would say, 'Who wants to hear from me? What do I have to add to all of this?'
John GrishamRead
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