The most difficult idea to reconcile in war is the notion that anything is going to be solved by killing a stranger, or in risking your life for a cause anchored in some distant political arena.
Walter Dean MyersRead
As a writer, I absorb stories, allow them to churn within my own head and heart - often for years - until I find a way of telling them that fits both my time and temperament.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writers take time to internalize stories before expressing them through their unique perspectives.
Walter Dean Myers emphasizes the deep and often lengthy process of storytelling for writers. He highlights that absorbing and contemplating stories is not instantaneous; rather, it requires personal reflection and compatibility with the writer's own experiences and emotions, ultimately leading to a distinct narrative that resonates with both the author and the audience.
Themes
WritingStoriesCreativityExpressionReflection
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, a teacher might quote this to inspire students to be patient with their creative process.
More from Walter Dean Myers
All quotes →I remember one time being told I could not play in a basketball game at the College of William and Mary because I was black, even though I was playing with a United States Army team.
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We need to tell young people that America was built by men and women of all colors and that the future of this country is dependent on the participation of all of our citizens.
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Yeah, that's funny, huh?...Something hurts you real bad and you get used to it. Like being hurt becomes part of who you are.
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Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?
Walter Dean MyersRead
We’re suggesting that [kids are] missing something if they don’t read but, actually, we’re condemning kids to a lesser life. If you had a sick patient, you would not try to entice them to take their medicine. You would tell them, ‘Take this or you’re going to die.’ We need to tell kids flat out: reading is not optional.
Walter Dean MyersRead
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