Arms Quote by Garrison Keillor
“People meet writers and are bowled over when the writer is friendly to them and invites them to his house for a glass of wine or to shoot up heroin or whatever they do, and they talk their heads off, and a year later it comes out in a book, and there follow years of bitter and fruitless litigation, and that is why you should always keep a writer at arm's length.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Writer's Dilemma, 1995
Writers who become too personal with subjects risk exploitation and legal trouble; maintain professional distance.
In simple terms: Keep writers at arm's length.
Key Takeaway
Maintain professional boundaries with writers.
Themes
ethics
literature
relationships
Mood
skeptical
reflective
Type
ethical
practical
When to use this quote
- publishing contracts
- author interviews
- creative collaborations
- media ethics
Key Concepts
privacy
exploitation
legal risk
Questions to Reflect On
- When does friendliness become a liability?
- How to protect both parties?
A Different Perspective
Close relationships can compromise objectivity and lead to litigation.
![“[I am more than happy to invite my five favorite fictional characters.]Roland Deschain from Stephen King's Dark Tower series. There's a whole world about Roland left to know. I've got questions. He'd have answers. So pour him a glass of wine.” quote by Megan Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7ad/megan-chance-8853_answers_i-am-more-than-happy-to-invite-my-five-f_150541.jpg)
