Balkans Quote by Geraldine Brooks
“I was a news reporter for 16 years, seven of them a foreign correspondent in the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. Perhaps the most useful equipment I acquired in that time is a lack of preciousness about the act of writing. A reporter must write. There must be a story. The mot juste unarriving? Tell that to your desk.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
Writing should be approached without excessive self‑criticism; focus on the story rather than perfection.
In simple terms: Write without over‑valuing each word.
Key Takeaway
Embrace a pragmatic mindset.
Themes
writing
journalism
self‑criticism
storytelling
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
advice
reflective
When to use this quote
- newsroom
- foreign correspondence
- drafting
- editing
Key Concepts
process
imperfection
focus
Questions to Reflect On
- How does letting go of preciousness affect your prose?
- What story emerges when you write freely?
A Different Perspective
Perfectionism can stifle creativity.
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