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I was trained mainly as a short story writer and that's…

“I was trained mainly as a short story writer and that's how I started writing, but I've also become very interested in non-fiction, just because I got a couple of magazine jobs when I was really poor and needed the money and it turned out that non-fiction was much more interesting than I thought…” quote by David Foster Wallace
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“I was trained mainly as a short story writer and that's how I started writing, but I've also become very interested in non-fiction, just because I got a couple of magazine jobs when I was really poor and needed the money and it turned out that non-fiction was much more interesting than I thought it was.”

David Foster Wallace

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He discovered non‑fiction while writing to earn a living, finding it more engaging than expected.

In simple terms: Writing for money led to a love of non‑fiction.

Key Takeaway

Explore new genres when opportunity arises.

Themes

career writing genre economics creativity

Mood

reflective curious

Type

personal professional

When to use this quote

  • magazine work
  • financial pressure
  • career pivot
  • genre exploration

Key Concepts

literary nonfiction economic necessity creative adaptation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does financial need shape artistic direction?
  • What draws you to a genre you initially avoided?
A Different Perspective

Non‑fiction may still feel like a compromise for some writers.

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