Good writing Quote by John Edgar Wideman
“Good writing is always about things that are important to you, things that are scary to you, things that eat you up.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Fiction Writing Workshop, John Edgar Wideman, 2005
Writing should focus on personal stakes, confronting fears, and topics that consume the writer emotionally.
In simple terms: Write about what matters, scares, and consumes you.
Channel personal urgency into your work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- journalism
- screenwriting
- personal essays
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal fear fuels your best writing?
- How does confronting that fear shape your voice?
May overlook broader audience relevance.