Character Quote by David Sedaris
“I don't worry about being exposed. When I'm writing about myself I think about myself as a character. There is a ton of stuff going on in my life that I don't write about. If I need to write that stuff down, I write about myself in my diary.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
He separates personal life from his writing, treating himself as a fictional character and keeping private thoughts in a diary.
In simple terms: He writes about himself as a character, keeping private details private.
Key Takeaway
Treat personal life as narrative, keep private thoughts private.
Themes
self‑reflection
privacy
creativity
Mood
introspective
thoughtful
Type
memoir
personal essay
When to use this quote
- Writing memoirs
- journal keeping
- public speaking
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
Narrative identity
self‑distancing
Questions to Reflect On
- How does viewing yourself as a character affect honesty?
- When should private thoughts become public?
A Different Perspective
May limit authentic emotional depth in work.
![“Thoughts are created in the act of writing. [It is a myth that] you must have something to say in order to write. Reality: You often need to write in order to have anything to say. Thought comes with writing, and writing may never come if it is postponed until we are satisfied that we have…” quote by Frank Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/80e/frank-smith-29214_assertion_thoughts-are-created-in-the-act-of-writi_489595.jpg)
