The writer is the person who stands outside society, independent of affiliation and independent of influence.
Don DelilloRead
Stories have no point if they don't absorb our terror.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stories must engage with our fears to hold significance.
This quote by Don Delillo emphasizes the importance of authenticity and emotional depth in storytelling. It suggests that for a narrative to resonate and be meaningful, it must confront and reflect the profound fears and anxieties that we as humans experience, thereby absorbing and addressing the terror within us.
Themes
StoriesFearTerrorMeaningNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, this quote can inspire participants to delve deeper into their characters' struggles.
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[I]n the American soul there is a lonely individual standing in a vast landscape. β¨He is either on a horse or driving a car, depending, and either way heβs carrying a gun. β¨This is one of the essential images in American mythology.
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