All worthy work is open to interpretations the author did not intend. Art isn't your pet -- it's your kid. It grows up and talks back to you.
Joss WhedonRead
There was a time before I felt I was a real writer, when I was a yarn spinner and I just wanted to tell story until it was over. But then there came a time where I was like, 'No, I want to understand something through writing this that I might have not understood before. I want people to come away with something to think about.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the evolution of a writer's purpose from merely telling stories to seeking deeper understanding and provoking thought.
Joss Whedon reflects on his growth as a writer, highlighting a critical transition from simply spinning tales for entertainment to a more profound intention of exploring ideas and insights through storytelling. This change signifies a desire not only to narrate events but also to enrich the audience's understanding, encouraging them to reflect on the themes and messages conveyed in his work.
Themes
WritingStorytellingUnderstandingGrowthReflection
In practice
Example use cases
During a writing workshop, to inspire participants to dig deeper into their narratives, I might share this quote from Joss Whedon.
More from Joss Whedon
All quotes →Because it’s no longer enough to be a decent person. It’s no longer enough to shake our heads and make concerned grimaces at the news. True enlightened activism is the only thing that can save humanity from itself.
Joss WhedonRead
I designed 'Buffy' to be an icon, to be an emotional experience, to be loved in a way that other shows can't be loved. Because it's about adolescence, which is the most important thing people go through in their development, becoming an adult.
Joss WhedonRead
My dad would go to work every day and write in a room full of funny people. He enjoyed it. I know great writers who find the process agonising but to me, writing has always been sheer joy.
Joss WhedonRead
I loved the idea of a girl going into a dark alley, and a monster comes, and then she just aces him. It’s like, you want to see the tiny person suddenly take control. God, my whole career is basically about that!
Joss WhedonRead
Limitations are something that I latch onto - like working in genre, or if you're writing TV, there are act breaks, there's a length of time it's supposed to be. The restrictions of budget and sets can be really useful. When you can have everything, it's very hard to make things feel real and lived in.
Joss WhedonRead
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I was definitely not the kid that just wanted to be famous for no reason whatsoever and then happened to find comedy. Fame and all that stuff have always been slightly terrifying to me, and it makes me very anxious.
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I write my books at moments of shock. I meet people in extremis and their stories are highly emotionally charged.
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Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune.
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I have piles of poetry books in the bathroom, on the stairs, everywhere. The only way to write poetry is to read it.
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A priest once said to me, 'Think of a priest going to the altar as you walk out on the stage.' I would hate to think that anyone thought I was coming to preach. But art and music open up things that you can't put into words. It's about bringing joy when you go out there.
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