Long Quote by Lawrence Wright
“If you're on a contract at 'The New Yorker,' the contract specifies the number of words you will publish in the magazine per year. I get paid by the word, like most writers. That's one reason why the Scientology article was 25,000 words long!”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2005
Writers are often paid per word, which can incentivize longer articles regardless of content quality.
In simple terms: Payment per word can inflate article length.
Key Takeaway
Consider quality over quantity.
Themes
journalism
economics
ethics
Mood
critical
thoughtful
Type
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- magazine writing
- contract negotiations
Key Concepts
incentive structures
media economics
Questions to Reflect On
- Does word count affect your writing style?
- How can integrity be maintained under such incentives?
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