Ability Quote by Alexander Weinstein
“David Foster Wallace was a brilliant experimentalist who I deeply admire. His ability to do formalism helped me understand how to tackle stories like "Dictionary" and "Failed Revolution." "Dictionary," in particular, functions against narrative in many ways - each of the definitions are their own mini-story or prose poem, and the collection of them adds up to create a different effect than the traditional Freytagian Pyramid story.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Interview with Alexander Weinstein, 2022
It praises Wallace’s experimental style, noting how formalism can reshape narrative expectations and inspire new storytelling techniques.
In simple terms: Wallace’s experimental form reshapes storytelling.
Key Takeaway
Embrace experimental narrative forms.
Themes
literary innovation
form
storytelling
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- creative writing classes
- literary analysis
- author studies
Key Concepts
experimentalism
formalism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you apply formalist techniques without confusing readers?
- What benefits arise from breaking narrative conventions?
A Different Perspective
Experimental forms can alienate some readers.
![“Books are a social substitute; you read people who, at one level, you'd like to hang out with. [David Foster Wallace]'s writing self--it's most pronounced in his essays--was the best friend you'd ever have, spotting everything, whispering jokes, sweeping you past what was irritating or boring or…” quote by David Lipsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f4/david-lipsky-30389_best-friend_books-are-a-social-substitute-you-read-p_2172757.jpg)
![“I am in that everything [ David Foster Wallace] writes is pretty much the best stuff I've read, so that makes me a fan I guess.” quote by John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/73f/john-krasinski-4756_fans_i-am-in-that-everything-david-foster-wal_1900900.jpg)
![“He [David Foster Wallace] compares raising children to raising books, you should take pride in the work you do inside a family and not from how they make out in the world. “It’s good to want a child to do well, but it’s bad to want that glory to reflect back on you,” is what he says.” quote by David Lipsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a4b/david-lipsky-30389_books_he-david-foster-wallace-compares-raising_1575049.jpg)
