When strangers on a train or a plane ask what I do for a…
““When strangers on a train or a plane ask what I do for a living, I say, "I kill people." This response makes for a short conversation. No eye contact and no sudden movement from my seat-mate. Only peace and quiet. Rare is the fellow passenger who asks why I do it. I suppose I got tired hanging out in a book all day waiting for a story to begin. I write the kind of novels I want to read. And why the theme of solving murders? Violent death is larger than life and it's the great equalizer. By law, every victim is entitled to a paladin and a chase, else life would be cheapened. And the real reason I do this? My brain is simply bent this way. There is nothing else I would rather do. This neatly chains into my theory of the writing life. If you scratch an artist, under the skin you will find a bum who cannot hold down a real job. Conversely, if you scratch a bum... but I have never done that. The heart of my theory has puritan roots: if you love what you do, you cannot call it honest work.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author uses a shocking profession metaphor to spark intrigue, revealing a drive for dramatic storytelling and personal authenticity.
In simple terms: Use shocking metaphor to engage readers.
Key Takeaway
Embrace bold storytelling.
Themes
creativity
identity
storytelling
Mood
provocative
introspective
Type
personal
motivational
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- marketing pitches
- personal branding
Key Concepts
Metaphor
authorial voice
crime fiction
Questions to Reflect On
- Why choose murder as a theme?
- How does honesty shape your work?
A Different Perspective
Risk of alienating audiences seeking realism.