The reporter wrote with the hope that he would get a by-line in the Times, a testimony to his being alive on that day and all the tomorrows of microfilm
Interpretation
This quote reflects the desire for recognition and the impact of one's existence through written words.
In this quote, Gay Talese highlights the profound hope of a reporter, who yearns for acknowledgment through a by-line in the Times. It symbolizes the human need for validation and the importance of leaving a mark on the world, suggesting that writing is not just a profession but a means of asserting oneβs presence and legacy for future generations.
In practice
In a motivational speech about achieving dreams and aspirations.
Better that you should take the chance of trying something that is close to your heart, you think is what you want to write, and if they do not publish it, put it in your drawer. But maybe another day will come and you will find a place to put that.
In forming a judgment, lay your hearts void of foretaken opinions; else, whatsoever is done or said, will be measured by a wrong rule; like them who have jaundice, to whom everything appears yellow.
Balance in large measure is knowing the things that can be changed, putting them in proper perspective, and recognizing the things that will not change."
There are no variations except for those who know a norm, and no subtleties for those who have not grasped the obvious.
You cannot create experience. You must undergo it.
I have lost stories and many starts of novels before. Not always as punishment for 'telling,' but more often as a result of something having gone cold and dead because of a hiatus. Telling, you see, is the same as a hiatus. It means you're not doing it.
When one side benefits more than the other, that's a win-lose situation. To the winner it might look like success for a while, but in the long run, it breeds resentment and distrust.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.