Brain Quote by Bonnie Jo Campbell
“Any of us who listen to the news or listen to stories our neighbors tell are accustomed to violence. We have to decide then to ignore the violence and create a gentler world in our fiction, or to heighten the violence through the use of point-of-view in order to explore it and gain some insight and understanding. Since I'm living with the violence and trouble in my brain, it's kind of a relief to write about it, to get it on paper, to put it in context, to find meaning in it.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, “On Violence and Fiction”, 2015
Balancing the portrayal of violence in storytelling: either soften it to foster gentleness or intensify it to explore and understand human turmoil.
In simple terms: Writers must choose between soothing or confronting violence in their work.
Key Takeaway
Choose the approach that best serves truth and healing.
Themes
violence
fiction
storytelling
psychology
healing
Mood
reflective
introspective
empathetic
Type
literary
therapeutic
When to use this quote
- writing therapy
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- journalism
- teaching creative writing
Key Concepts
narrative ethics
emotional catharsis
creative responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your work affect readers’ perception of real-world violence?
- When is it essential to depict violence vividly?
A Different Perspective
Excessive focus on violence can desensitize audiences or glorify harm.
