To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters the meaning of the object photographed.
Joan DidionRead
The writer is always tricking the reader into listening to their dream.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writers often manipulate narratives to engage readers in their imaginative visions.
Joan Didion's quote suggests that a writer's primary role is to captivate the reader's attention and immerse them in a crafted dream world. This act of 'tricking' is not about deception but rather about skillfully guiding readers through the authorβs imagination, allowing them to experience a journey that transcends reality.
Themes
WritingDreamReaderImaginationNarrative
In practice
Example use cases
During a writing workshop, I used Didion's quote to illustrate how narrative techniques can engage readers.
More from Joan Didion
All quotes βThe truth is, it's easier for me to write than talk... to express the state I'm in at any time.
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Memories are what you no longer want to remember.
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It was clear, for example, in 1988 that the political process had already become perilously remote from the electorate it was meant to represent.
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I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?
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Do not whine... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.
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