“A story is a way to say something that can’t be said any other way, and it takes every word in the story to say what the meaning is.”

Last update June 3, 2021. History

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Flannery O’Connor82

American novelist, short story writer 1925–1964

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William Golding (1911–1993) British novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize for Literature laureate

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“A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls. Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers stronger, brighter, deeper.”

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) American writer

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And then after a few minutes everybody calms down and somebody says yeah, we can’t do it that way, it doesn’t make any sense, because it hurts this thing and this. And then everyone gets a little—has a moment of silence for the idea and moves on, and something amazing was kept away from the public.”

Louis C.K. (1967) American comedian and actor

Time http://entertainment.time.com/2011/06/22/louis-ck-interview-part-1-fatherhood-and-fear/#ixzz2LfKg3gu2 (2011)

“I think the most important thing, when you are directing is perspective on the story. What is your take? What are you saying? What does it mean?”

Zoya Akhtar (1974) Indian film director

Luck By Chance - My First Film 29 Oct 2018, at 9 Min 03 Sec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B2wChETV5g <br class="br">From interview with Film Companion

“I believe that God’s Word is infallible and flawless in every detail. If the Bible says that something was created a certain way, then that is just the way it happened.”

Kent Hovind (1953) American young Earth creationist

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“I can’t say precisely. I don’t think anyone really knows how a story takes shape. When it’s done you try to explain how it happened, but every effort, at least in my case, is insufficient. There is a before, made up of fragments of memory, and an after, when the story begins. But before and after, I have to admit, are useful only in answering your question now in an intelligible way.”

Elena Ferrante (1943) Italian writer

On being asked how she begins a new work in “Elena Ferrante, Art of Fiction No. 228” https://www.theparisreview.org/interviews/6370/elena-ferrante-art-of-fiction-no-228-elena-ferrante in The Paris Review (Spring 2015)

“It's only a story, isn't it?"…
"Who's to say what's only a story and what's truth disguised as a story?”

David Eddings book Pawn of Prophecy

Source: Pawn of Prophecy

“They say a story loses something with each telling.”

Cecelia Ahern (1981) Irish novelist

Source: The Book of Tomorrow

“I'm sorry," Laila says, marveling at how every Afghan story is marked by death and loss and unimaginable grief. And yet, she sees, people find a way to survive, to go on.”

Khaled Hosseini book A Thousand Splendid Suns

Laila, p. 395
Variant: Every Afghan story is marked by death and loss and unimaginable grief. And yet, she sees, people find a way to survive, to go on.
Source: A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007)

“A story is a way to say something that can’t be said any other way, and it takes every word in the story to say what the meaning is.”

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Flannery O’Connor82

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