In general, even if I'm dealing with a historical subject…
“In general, even if I'm dealing with a historical subject, I begin with invention rather than investigation, because I need to understand what is going to be the voice or the tone of the story.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
She prioritizes creating a story’s voice and tone before researching facts, using imagination to shape narrative direction.
In simple terms: Create the story’s voice first, then research.
Key Takeaway
Start with invention, then investigate.
Themes
creativity
storytelling
process
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
advice
process
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- documentary script
- historical fiction
- personal essay
Key Concepts
narrative voice
tone
improvisation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does tone guide your research?
- When should investigation reshape your invented voice?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on invention may lead to factual inaccuracies.