My standard for verisimilitude is simple and I came to it…
““My standard for verisimilitude is simple and I came to it when I started to write prose narrative: fuck the average reader. I was always told to write for the average reader in my newspaper life. The average reader, as they meant it, was some suburban white subscriber with two-point-whatever kids and three-point-whatever cars and a dog and a cat and lawn furniture. He knows nothing and he needs everything explained to him right away, so that exposition becomes this incredible, story-killing burden. Fuck him. Fuck him to hell.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker rejects catering to a presumed average audience, advocating bold, unapologetic storytelling that challenges readers.
In simple terms: Write boldly, ignore generic expectations.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize artistic integrity.
Themes
authorship
rebellion
audience expectations
Mood
defiant
critical
Type
provocative
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- journalism
- blogging
Key Concepts
censorship
literary authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- Who is your true audience?
- How far will you push boundaries?
A Different Perspective
Risk of alienating some readers.