Details Quote by Lydia Davis
“As the writer, I may choose to ignore the emotional heart of the matter, and focus on details, and trust that the heart of the matter will be conveyed nevertheless.”
About This Quote
Source Essay collection “The End of the World” (1995) by Lydia Davis
A writer can omit emotional core yet still convey it through detail and trust.
In simple terms: Details can convey emotion even if the heart is ignored.
Key Takeaway
Trust that detail will reveal feeling.
Themes
writing
detail
emotion
trust
craft
Mood
analytical
reflective
Type
literary
educational
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- editing practice
- teaching literature
- storytelling
Key Concepts
narrative theory
literary technique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do details substitute for explicit emotion?
- When is it effective to hide the heart?
A Different Perspective
Risk of readers missing emotional depth.
![“I worked more intensively hour after hour when I was starting out [writing]. More laboriously. I'd say quantity is important as well as quality, and if you're not producing enough, make a schedule and stick to it.” quote by Lydia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/29b/lydia-davis-3244_after-hours_i-worked-more-intensively-hour-after-hou_171566.jpg)
