A Letdown Squid 3
The problem with Maximalist writers… “Such a writer’s sole ambition is for the characters and events to represent other and superior—read: actual—characters and events. Meaning, the written story has never been what mattered most. Meaning, the reader is meant to care less about the characters and more about whoever inspired them, and the actions in a story serve to ensure that we track their provenance and regard that material as truer. Meaning, the story is engineered—and expected—to be about something. And aboutness is all but terminal in fiction. Stories aren’t about things. Stories are things. Stories aren’t about actions. Stories are, unto themselves, actions.” - Bret Anthony Johnston (“Don’t Write What You Know.” - The Atlantic)

The problem with Maximalist writers…

“Such a writer’s sole ambition is for the characters and events to represent other and superior—read: actual—characters and events. Meaning, the written story has never been what mattered most. Meaning, the reader is meant to care less about the characters and more about whoever inspired them, and the actions in a story serve to ensure that we track their provenance and regard that material as truer. Meaning, the story is engineered—and expected—to be about something. And aboutness is all but terminal in fiction.

Stories aren’t about things. Stories are things.

Stories aren’t about actions. Stories are, unto themselves, actions.”

- Bret Anthony Johnston (“Don’t Write What You Know.” - The Atlantic)

(Source: simplellama.com)

12 September 2012 · Comments

3 notes

  1. aletdownsquid posted this

About Me

My name is Donald Quist. I'm trying to become a better writer and human being. I have a predilection for expletives, moral dilemmas, ellipses, obscure pop-culture references and parenthetical statements. I currently live in Bangkok, Thailand. My collection of short stories is now available online and in a few independent bookstores. You can buy it on Amazon or by clicking that yellow button below.

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