Attention Quote by Lorin Stein
“Pretty much every issue that we've put out, there have been at least one or two things that really surprised me. It sounds like bullshit, but most of the stories that we've run had that effect on me. We get thousands and thousands of submissions and I don't think we've published a story yet - very few, anyway - where there wasn't something like what Mona Simpson described, where a first sentence or a first page didn't just really command attention.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
Unexpected elements in stories often capture attention, making the piece memorable and impactful.
In simple terms: Surprising details make stories stick.
Key Takeaway
Seek surprising angles in your work.
Themes
creativity
attention
storytelling
Mood
curious
analytical
Type
observational
reflective
When to use this quote
- journalism
- fiction writing
- editing
- content curation
Key Concepts
Narrative surprise
reader engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance surprise with substance?
- What makes a first line compelling?
A Different Perspective
Not every surprise guarantees quality; overreliance can feel gimmicky.
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