--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a writer, it's a great narrative tool…" description: "\"As a writer, it's a great narrative tool to have that character who is slightly detached but at the same time observant of his reality, because I think..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/dinaw-mengestu-12378_because_as-a-writer-it-s-a-great-narrative-tool_2829111.png" --- # As a writer, it's a great narrative tool to have that… ![“As a writer, it's a great narrative tool to have that character who is slightly detached but at the same time observant of his reality, because I think that's pretty much what being a writer is - being there, watching and internalizing.” quote by Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/dinaw-mengestu-12378_because_as-a-writer-it-s-a-great-narrative-tool_2829111.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/dinaw-mengestu-12378_because_as-a-writer-it-s-a-great-narrative-tool_2829111.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b77/dinaw-mengestu-12378_because_as-a-writer-it-s-a-great-narrative-tool_2829111.png) > “As a writer, it's a great narrative tool to have that character who is slightly detached but at the same time observant of his reality, because I think that's pretty much what being a writer is - being there, watching and internalizing.” [Dinaw Mengestu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinaw-mengestu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers benefit from a slightly detached yet observant perspective, allowing them to watch and internalize reality. **In simple terms:** Detached observation helps writers understand reality. Key Takeaway Adopt a balanced distance to observe and internalize. Themes writing observation detachment creativity Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Journalism - fiction writing - character development - creative workshops Key Concepts Narrative technique self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay engaged while remaining detached? - What observations deepen your writing? A Different Perspective Being too detached may hinder emotional connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Observant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observant/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“For me -- for pretty much every writer -- the big problem isn't piracy, it's obscurity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/for-me-for-pretty-much-every-writer-the-big-problem-isn-t-piracy-it-s/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“There is only one trait that marks the writer. He is always watching. 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