There's an old saying: 'No piece of writing is ever finished, it's just abandoned.' But my own rule is: No piece of work is done until you want to kill everyone involved in the publishing process, especially yourself.
Chuck PalahniukRead
My teacher Tom Spanbauer, the man who got me started writing in his workshop, used to say: 'Writers write because they weren't invited to a party.' That always struck so true, and people always nod their heads when they hear that. Especially writers.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writers create because they feel excluded from social events, which drives them to express themselves through their craft.
This quote reflects the idea that many writers are motivated by feelings of social exclusion or the desire for connection that they don't experience in traditional social settings. It suggests that writing can be a way to process these feelings and create a sense of community or understanding through shared experiences and narratives. The acknowledgment from fellow writers reinforces the common bond of feeling like outsiders, which often fuels their creativity.
Themes
WritingCreativityExclusionExpressionCommunity
In practice
Example use cases
During a writer's workshop, you could share this quote to discuss the motivations behind your writing.
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