Approach Quote by Richard Matheson
“When I'm writing, especially when I'm writing in first person, I don't think about the characterization, or how they are going to express themselves, I just express my own approach to these things. I think most writers can never divorce themselves from their private lives and personas; they are the ones that are writing. And the more they remove themselves from their own persona, the more, perhaps, mechanical the work becomes.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Art of Writing, 1975
The author argues that personal experience inevitably colors writing; removing self makes work feel mechanical.
In simple terms: Your life see your writing; stripping it empties the work.
Key Takeaway
Embrace personal truth in creative expression.
Themes
authorship
identity
creativity
authenticity
Mood
introspective
encouraging
Type
literary
practical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- teaching
- personal development
Key Concepts
self‑expression
character voice
literary theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers balance personal voice with technique?
- When does personal bias hinder storytelling?
A Different Perspective
The claim may undervalue disciplined craft.
