Character Quote by Lydia Davis
“We all have an ongoing narrative inside our heads, the narrative that is spoken aloud if a friend asks a question. That narrative feels deeply natural to me. We also hang on to scraps of dialogue. Our memories don’t usually serve us up whole scenes complete with dialogue. So I suppose I’m saying that I like to work from what a character is likely to remember, from a more interior place.”
About This Quote
Source Short story collection: “The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis”, 2009
The internal monologue shapes how we recall events, often fragmented and lacking full dialogue.
In simple terms: Our memories are pieced together from inner thoughts.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the interior voice when creating characters.
Themes
memory
storytelling
psychology
Mood
introspective
thoughtful
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- writing fiction
- character development
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
narrative voice
fragmented recollection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does inner dialogue influence your perception of past events?
- Can fragmented memory enhance storytelling?
A Different Perspective
Relying solely on interior monologue may miss external context.
![“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)
