Beneath the surface Quote by Amy Waldman
“As a novelist, you deepen your characters as you go, adding layers. As a reporter, you try to peel layers away: observing subjects enough to get beneath the surface, re-questioning a source to find the facts. But these processes aren't so different.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Author discussion, 2018
Writing and reporting share a process of uncovering truth through layers, though one builds depth while the other strips it.
In simple terms: Both professions dig layers, one adds, one removes.
Key Takeaway
Use layered inquiry in any investigative work.
Themes
writing
journalism
process
truth
layers
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
literary
journalistic
When to use this quote
- research projects
- feature writing
- documentary filmmaking
Key Concepts
Narrative depth
investigative technique
storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers maintain depth while staying factual?
- What techniques help reporters uncover hidden truths?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify differences between creative and factual pursuits.
