Arguing Quote by Roy Kesey
“Very often, or perhaps more often, and even in very good collections - even in some of the best collections ever written, I would argue - it's because our "voicier" writers hew so closely to one given set of dictional tics that we as readers can't read the books all the way through in a single sitting, because if we did, the stories and their narrators would all start to bleed together.”
About This Quote
Writers who use overly uniform diction make their stories blend together, hindering readers from finishing in one sitting.
In simple terms: Uniform style makes books blend, stopping readers from finishing quickly.
Key Takeaway
Seek varied diction to keep narratives distinct.
Themes
writing
style
readability
literary criticism
narrative voice
Mood
analytical
critical
thoughtful
Type
literary critique
observational
When to use this quote
- book clubs
- creative writing workshops
- editing sessions
- literary analysis
- teaching literature
Key Concepts
lexical variety
reader engagement
genre differentiation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does diction affect your immersion?
- Can varied language improve story recall?
A Different Perspective
Uniform diction can limit emotional depth and character uniqueness.
![“SADNESSES OF THE INTELLECT: Sadness of being misunderstood [sic]; Humor sadness; Sadness of love wit[hou]t release; Sadne[ss of be]ing smart; Sadness of not knowing enough words to [express what you mean]; Sadness of having options; Sadness of wanting sadness; Sadness of confusion; Sadness of…” quote by Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/52e/jonathan-safran-foer-136_anxiety_sadnesses-of-the-intellect-sadness-of-be_614773.jpg)
