Calling Quote by John D'Agata
“For a while I just couldn't imagine that there was a place for me in nonfiction. I looked around at what we were calling nonfiction and I thought, "Maybe you do have to go to poetry in order to do this other weird thing in nonfiction."”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Paris Review, 2015
The author struggled to see a role for himself in nonfiction, considering poetry as a bridge to unconventional nonfiction.
In simple terms: He felt nonfiction needed poetic freedom.
Key Takeaway
Embrace hybrid forms.
Themes
identity
genre
creativity
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
Type
literary
experimental
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- literary journals
- personal essays
- experimental publishing
Key Concepts
hybrid nonfiction
poetic prose
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you blend poetry with factual storytelling?
- What risks arise when mixing genres?
A Different Perspective
Poetry may not always translate to nonfiction impact.
![“I don't see [ Trainspotting ] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've got a good agent, I've got a good manager, I'm getting a lot of work out there and doing a lot of stuff - getting a lot of film projects on the go.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/918/irvine-welsh-843_agents_i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatros_7750.jpg)
