Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.
Gustave FlaubertRead
Then what shall I write? I can't just write that this happened then this happened then this happened to boring infinitum. I'll let my journal grow just like the mind does, just like a tree or beast does, just like life does. Why should a book tell a tale in a dull straight line? Words should wander and meander. They should fly like owls and flicker like bats and slip like cats. They should murmur and scream and dance and sing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing should be dynamic and expressive, reflecting the complexity of life rather than presenting a linear narrative.
In this quote, David Almond emphasizes that writing, like life, is not a straightforward journey but rather a rich and intricate exploration of thoughts and emotions. He encourages writers to embrace the fluidity, creativity, and spontaneity of expression, suggesting that words should evoke a sense of movement and vitality, akin to the natural world, rather than adhering to a dull chronological structure.
Themes
WritingCreativityExpressionLifeNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
In a creative writing workshop to inspire fellow writers to break free from traditional storytelling.
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