Being Quote by Alan Bennett
“Sometimes, particularly in summers in New York, I have tried to write in shorts or with no shirt on and found myself unable to do so, the reason being, I take it, that writing, even of the most impersonal sort, is for me a divestment, a striptease, even, so that if I start off undressed, I have nowhere to go.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: BBC Radio 4, 1995
Writing feels exposing; without metaphorical clothing, the writer feels vulnerable and unable to begin.
In simple terms: Writing is like stripping, exposing the self.
Allow yourself comfort before writing.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing sessions
- therapy
- creative blocks
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal barriers stop you writing?
- How can you create a safe space for writing?
Not all writers feel this way.