I didn't know I was a zombie pedant until I started considering what from the zombie canon to keep in 'Zone One' and what to ignore.
Colson WhiteheadRead
If you're writing a detective novel or horror or sci-fi, you want to expand or reinvigorate the genre in your own little way.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writers should strive to innovate and bring fresh perspectives to their genres.
Colson Whitehead emphasizes the importance of creativity and originality in writing, particularly in genres such as detective, horror, and science fiction. He encourages authors to not just follow existing conventions but to expand and rejuvenate their respective genres with their unique voice and ideas, thereby contributing to the evolution of literature.
Themes
WritingCreativityInnovationGenreLiterature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a writers' workshop to inspire creativity among participants.
More from Colson Whitehead
All quotes βI don't generally follow sports. At an early age, I discovered that nature had apportioned me only a small reserve of enthusiasm. Best to ration.
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In keeping with my family's affection for doomed product lines and hexed formats, we purchased a Betamax. The year before, we'd bought a TRS-80 instead of an Apple II, and in due course we'd unbox Mattel's Intellivision, instead of Atari's legendary gizmo. This was good training for a writer, for the sooner you accept the fact that you are a deluded idiot who is always out of step with reality the better off you will be.
Colson WhiteheadRead
Access to information, to music or any kind of culture, is getting faster and faster and more streamlined. At each juncture, people are thrown into tumult and have to adapt or die.
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I use New York to talk about home, but the ideas in 'Colossus' could be transferred to other cities. The story about Central Park is really about the first day of spring in any park. The Coney Island chapter is really about beaches and summer and heat waves.
Colson WhiteheadRead
Early on my career, I figured out that I just have to write the book I have to write at that moment. Whatever else is going on in the culture is just not that important. If you could get the culture to write your book, that would be great. But the culture can't write your book.
Colson WhiteheadRead
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