After Quote by Lydia Davis
“Ordering is difficult. It's like arranging pieces of music in a concert: What do you put first? What do you put after the intermission? I want the reader to be sort of surprised, to come to each story freshly.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Art of Ordering” in The New Yorker, 2002
Structuring narratives is akin to arranging a concert, requiring careful decisions about pacing and surprise to keep readers engaged.
In simple terms: Story ordering is like concert programming.
Key Takeaway
Plan narrative flow for impact.
Themes
structure
storytelling
surprise
Mood
analytical
creative
Type
literary
instructional
When to use this quote
- book chapters
- film editing
- event planning
Key Concepts
narrative pacing
reader engagement
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide what comes first?
- What balance of surprise and order works best?
A Different Perspective
Over‑planning can stifle spontaneity.
![“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)
