Writers don't always know what they mean - that's why they write. Their work stands in for them. On the page, the reader meets the authoritative, perfected self; in life, the writer is lumbered with the uncertain, imperfect one.
Interpretation
Writers express their deeper meanings through their work, which may not always align with their intentions in life.
This quote by John Lahr highlights the distinction between a writer's creative expression and their real-life persona. It suggests that the act of writing allows authors to convey a more polished or articulate version of themselves, in contrast to the often unsure and complex nature of their actual existence. The written word becomes a tangible representation of their thoughts, allowing readers to connect with an idealized version of the writer's identity and message.
In practice
In a workshop about the writing process, this quote can illustrate the struggle of authors.
Theatre is a game of hide-and-seek. For both the hiders and the seekers, the thrill is in the discovery. When the rules of the game are too vague or too complicated, however, the audience can lose its urge to play; the prize no longer seems quite worth the hunt.
I was the first critic ever to win a Tony - for co-authoring 'Elaine Stritch at Liberty.' Criticism is a life without risk; the critic is risking his opinion, the maker is risking his life. It's a humbling thought but important for the critic to keep it in mind - a thought he can only know if he's made something himself.
So long as the human spirit thrives on this planet, music in some living form will accompany and sustain it and give it expressive meaning.
The books that I'm writing, you can write them only when you're amongst your people. You're not going to find it on the Internet. You're not going to hear it there.
Sure, they were simple desk lamps with only a minimal amount of movement, but you could immediately tell that Luxo Jr. was a baby, and that the big one was his mother. In that short little film, computer animation went from a novelty to a serious tool for filmmaking.
The next step in sculpture is motion.
The eyes of a poet discover in each person a unique and irreplaceable humanity. While arrogant intellect seeks to control and manipulate the world, the poetic spirit bows with reverence before its mysteries.
Sometimes I wish I could walk up to my music for the first time, as if I had never heard it before.
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