--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess what I'm trying to say is that…" description: "\"I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever weirdness was going to be in there, I felt, had to be earned. And it had to be required by the emotiona..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/george-saunders-317_book_i-guess-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-w_2218783.jpg" --- # I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever weirdness… ![“I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever weirdness was going to be in there, I felt, had to be earned. And it had to be required by the emotional needs of the book.” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/george-saunders-317_book_i-guess-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-w_2218783.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/george-saunders-317_book_i-guess-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-w_2218783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2c6/george-saunders-317_book_i-guess-what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-w_2218783.jpg) > “I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever weirdness was going to be in there, I felt, had to be earned. And it had to be required by the emotional needs of the book.” [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrative’s oddities must earn their place by serving the story’s emotional core. **In simple terms:** Weird parts need purpose in the story. Key Takeaway Ensure every strange element serves emotion. Themes creativity emotion storytelling Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary analytical When to use this quote - novel writing - character development - genre blending Key Concepts narrative necessity emotional resonance Questions to Reflect On - Does this strange detail deepen emotional impact? - How would the story feel without it? A Different Perspective If the oddity feels gratuitous, it can alienate readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-needs/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-earned-4420655/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Required Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/required-emotional-4943090/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Weirdness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weirdness/) [Weirdness Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weirdness-going-861565/) ## Related quotes > [“It took hours, but all of a sudden as she was drawing the plug-in for a vacuum pump that felt as if it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/it-took-hours-but-all-of-a-sudden-as-she-was-drawing-the-plug-in-for/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [“The release and joy that come from luxury are only felt when you earned it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-rose/the-release-and-joy-that-come-from-luxury-are-only-felt-when-you/) [Arden Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-rose/) > [I don't have emotional needs, only physical ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/i-don-t-have-emotional-needs-only-physical-ones/) [Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/) > [“Pretty much nobody is getting their emotional needs met.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/pretty-much-nobody-is-getting-their-emotional-needs-met/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“He hurts you because he loves you inadequately. 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