Impossible Quote by Donald E. Westlake
“For a long while, I found Parker impossible. He went away for 23 years. I tried to bring him back a few times, and I sort of figured out where he came from, why he went away, and why he came back. The thing that I have to tap into for Parker is in some way the outsider. If I can tap into the outsider, I can write about Parker, and if I can't, I can't.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Writing, 1992
Understanding a character’s outsider perspective is essential; without it, authentic portrayal fails.
In simple terms: Seeing the outsider helps write authentic characters.
Key Takeaway
Explore the outsider within.
Themes
character development
empathy
authenticity
Mood
analytical
creative
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenplay drafting
- character interviews
Key Concepts
psychology
literary technique
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a character feel like an outsider?
- How can you balance outsider view with internal motives?
A Different Perspective
Focusing only on outsider may ignore other dimensions.
