Books Quote by David Simon
““My standard for verisimilitude is simple and I came to it when I started to write prose narrative: fuck the average reader. I was always told to write for the average reader in my newspaper life. The average reader, as they meant it, was some suburban white subscriber with two-point-whatever kids and three-point-whatever cars and a dog and a cat and lawn furniture. He knows nothing and he needs everything explained to him right away, so that exposition becomes this incredible, story-killing burden. Fuck him. Fuck him to hell.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Wire creator, 2012
The speaker rejects catering to a presumed average audience, advocating bold, unapologetic storytelling that challenges readers.
In simple terms: Write boldly, ignore generic expectations.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize artistic integrity.
Themes
authorship
rebellion
audience expectations
Mood
defiant
critical
Type
provocative
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- journalism
- blogging
Key Concepts
censorship
literary authenticity
Questions to Reflect On
- Who is your true audience?
- How far will you push boundaries?
A Different Perspective
Risk of alienating some readers.
