Angry Quote by Nicholson Baker
“A problem that I have with everything fictional is that writers are always having to come up with sudden artillery explosions in the middle of whatever is going on. The characters are having interesting, subtle interactions, or jealousies, or whatever it is, and suddenly some gigantic angry eruption has to happen, a giant gasp where everyone has to scramble around. That's the point where I'm turned off. I want the dynamic range to be a little smaller. I don't like the big false bangs.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Paris Review, 2005
Writers often insert sudden, overwhelming events that disrupt subtle storytelling, reducing narrative depth.
In simple terms: Big, sudden events ruin subtle stories.
Key Takeaway
Prefer nuanced, gradual conflict.
Themes
writing
narrative
subtlety
dramatic tension
Mood
frustrated
critical
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
plot structure
character development
story pacing
Questions to Reflect On
- How can tension be built without sudden explosions?
- What alternatives maintain engagement?
A Different Perspective
Overly dramatic moments can feel contrived and alienate readers.
![“[Christopher:] You cannot conceive of the quantity of explosives the armies throw at each other for each man killed! The shells make a continuous noise, sometimes like an enormous machine breaking apart. At other times, they come whistling towards you in a thoughtful sort of way and then go crump…” quote by Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/02a/tom-stoppard-437_breaking-apart_christopher-you-cannot-conceive-of-the-q_969566.jpg)
