--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The language has got to be fully alive…" description: "\"The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear dull, flaccid writing myself and I don't see why any reader should put up with it.\" — Helen Dunmore" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/helen-dunmore-12115_alive_the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i_1972126.png" --- # The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear… ![“The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear dull, flaccid writing myself and I don't see why any reader should put up with it.” quote by Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/helen-dunmore-12115_alive_the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i_1972126.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/helen-dunmore-12115_alive_the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i_1972126.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/helen-dunmore-12115_alive_the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i_1972126.png) > “The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear dull, flaccid writing myself and I don't see why any reader should put up with it.” [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She insists that writing must be vibrant and alive, rejecting dull prose, and believes readers deserve engaging text. **In simple terms:** Writing should be lively; boring writing is unacceptable. Key Takeaway Write with energy and avoid dullness. Themes writing craft readership literary standards vibrancy Mood inspirational critical thoughtful Type advice literary When to use this quote - creative writing - editing - publishing Key Concepts engagement style authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep prose lively? - What makes a reader stay engaged? A Different Perspective Vibrant writing may be harder to produce quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fully Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fully-alive/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“When I'm writing I don't want anyone else in the room - including myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/when-i-m-writing-i-don-t-want-anyone-else-in-the-room-including-myself/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [“I know I am a writer because until I’m writing I don’t know what I know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayson-choy/i-know-i-am-a-writer-because-until-i-m-writing-i-don-t-know-what-i/) Wayson Choy > [There's a mystery to writing, and you don't really know where most of it comes from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/there-s-a-mystery-to-writing-and-you-don-t-really-know-where-most-of/) [Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/) > [My subconscious does the writing; I don't have control over that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/my-subconscious-does-the-writing-i-don-t-have-control-over-that/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [I love writing but don't get a huge amount of time to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lennie-james/i-love-writing-but-don-t-get-a-huge-amount-of-time-to-do-it/) [Lennie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lennie-james/) > [I've had to tell people that I'm not co-writing. I don't want to do it and that's that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-ve-had-to-tell-people-that-i-m-not-co-writing-i-don-t-want-to-do-it/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [One of my fears is not writing. I don't know how to do anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/one-of-my-fears-is-not-writing-i-don-t-know-how-to-do-anything-else/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [I try to make sure that, when I'm writing, I don't put too much Cody in it. But I don't want to lose it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-johnson/i-try-to-make-sure-that-when-i-m-writing-i-don-t-put-too-much-cody-in/) [Cody Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-johnson/) > [I like writing because I can do it anywhere, and I don't need money to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-like-writing-because-i-can-do-it-anywhere-and-i-don-t-need-money-to/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [“The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/the-beautiful-part-of-writing-is-that-you-don-t-have-to-get-it-right-2/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [I don't really do anything that isn't about writing, and I don't really know who I am if I'm not thinking about writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-don-t-really-do-anything-that-isn-t-about-writing-and-i-don-t/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I have fun writing. I don't make it a chore. I don't have to struggle with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-have-fun-writing-i-don-t-make-it-a-chore-i-don-t-have-to-struggle/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [It is not brilliance or facility that is necessary, but the determination to bear and even enjoy the dull process of wading into one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-o-nan/it-is-not-brilliance-or-facility-that-is-necessary-but-the/) [Stewart O'Nan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-o-nan/) > [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“One's best work comes when we are fully alive, happy, and inspired.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schiffer/one-s-best-work-comes-when-we-are-fully-alive-happy-and-inspired/) Eric Schiffer ## More by Helen Dunmore > [Mourning Ruby is not a flat landscape: it is more like a box with pictures painted on every face. And each face is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/mourning-ruby-is-not-a-flat-landscape-it-is-more-like-a-box-with/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [To try to expunge an individual's history is a terrible violation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/to-try-to-expunge-an-individual-s-history-is-a-terrible-violation/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [Reread, rewrite, reread, rewrite. If it still doesn't work, throw it away. It's a nice feeling, and you don't want to be cluttered with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/reread-rewrite-reread-rewrite-if-it-still-doesn-t-work-throw-it-away/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“The word 'personal' is one of my aversions. Personal loan. Personal hygiene. Personal safety. It's only a way of wrapping up bad news that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/the-word-personal-is-one-of-my-aversions-personal-loan-personal/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [I can remember being in my pram: children stayed in their prams much longer then than they do now. A big bouncy pram with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/i-can-remember-being-in-my-pram-children-stayed-in-their-prams-much/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“Dad was alive. I believed Conor, but I still didn't really know it. But now I do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/dad-was-alive-i-believed-conor-but-i-still-didn-t-really-know-it-but/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [A novel, in the end, is a container, a shape which you are trying to pour your story into.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/a-novel-in-the-end-is-a-container-a-shape-which-you-are-trying-to/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“Fear of this order is not an emotion. It is like a virus overwhelming every cell of his body, while his mind struggles to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/fear-of-this-order-is-not-an-emotion-it-is-like-a-virus-overwhelming/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“Our houses are palaces to those who have none.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/our-houses-are-palaces-to-those-who-have-none/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [I could start with Mandelstam, who was a huge influence on my early writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/i-could-start-with-mandelstam-who-was-a-huge-influence-on-my-early/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [My first collection of poems was published by Bloodaxe Books, which was then a very new imprint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/my-first-collection-of-poems-was-published-by-bloodaxe-books-which/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“It seemed to me that there was a self-interest hidden in the core of all of us, which cooled us when we contemplated any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/it-seemed-to-me-that-there-was-a-self-interest-hidden-in-the-core-of/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [A problem with a piece of writing often clarifies itself if you go for a long walk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/a-problem-with-a-piece-of-writing-often-clarifies-itself-if-you-go/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [“You have to keep on with a house, day after day, I think. Heating, cleaning, opening and closing windows, making sounds to fill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/you-have-to-keep-on-with-a-house-day-after-day-i-think-heating/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) > [I hope that readers will tear through my books because they can't stop themselves - and then, maybe, read them again and find new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/i-hope-that-readers-will-tear-through-my-books-because-they-can-t/) [Helen Dunmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) [Explore all 56 Helen Dunmore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear dull, flaccid writing myself and I don't see why any reader should put up with it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Helen Dunmore" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i-can-t-bear-dull-flaccid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i-can-t-bear-dull-flaccid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/helen-dunmore-12115_alive_the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i_1972126.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/helen-dunmore-12115_alive_the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i_1972126.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/818/helen-dunmore-12115_alive_the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i_1972126.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The language has got to be fully alive - I can't bear dull, flaccid writing myself and I don't see why any…” — Helen Dunmore", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Helen Dunmore", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-dunmore/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The language has got to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i-can-t-bear-dull-flaccid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-dunmore/the-language-has-got-to-be-fully-alive-i-can-t-bear-dull-flaccid/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```