Difficult Quote by Douglas A. Martin
“William Faulkner was the master of what one must do to be serious. But I don't understand why people haven't moved forward from that, why that's not where the line in the sand is that you would see from. When I think about the reception of my own writing and what seems "difficult," there is an actual precedent.”
About This Quote
The quote reflects on the difficulty of being taken seriously in literature and the stagnation of moving beyond established standards.
In simple terms: It questions why writers stay stuck in old expectations.
Key Takeaway
Challenge conventions and seek fresh perspectives.
Themes
literature
seriousness
innovation
reception
precedent
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- publishing
- creative workshops
- self‑assessment
- literary criticism
Key Concepts
authorial voice
critical standards
creative risk
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers break free from past norms?
- What risks are worth taking for originality?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched expectations is hard and may face resistance.
![“I believe that when the last ding-dong of doom has clanged and faded from the last worthless rock hanging tideless in the last red and dying evening, that even then there will still be one more sound: that of [man’s] puny inexhaustible voice, still talking. William Faulkner” quote by Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2e9/mary-karr-3335_william-faulkner_i-believe-that-when-the-last-ding-dong-o_1832282.jpg)
![“I wrote a paper [in school] on [William] Faulkner and no one could tell what the sentences meant.” quote by Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c92/elizabeth-crook-23711_paper_i-wrote-a-paper-in-school-on-william-fau_1616168.jpg)
![“I think that [William] Faulkner and I each had to escape certain particulars of our lives, and we found salvation through words. I understand the Bible story of Babel so much better now. I think that moments of extremity, desires of escape, lead us to foreign languages--not those learned in…” quote by Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0ae/tennessee-williams-745_better-now_i-think-that-william-faulkner-and-i-each_1247777.jpg)
