Attention Quote by Salman Rushdie
“I think the business of writing a great deal of it is the business of paying attention to your characters, to the world they live in, to the story you have to tell, but just a kind of deep attention and out of that if you pay attention properly the story will tell you what it needs.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Guardian, “The Art of Writing”, 2015
Effective storytelling arises from deeply observing characters and their environments, allowing the narrative to reveal its own needs.
In simple terms: Good stories come from paying close attention to characters and setting.
Key Takeaway
Observe characters and setting closely to let the story guide itself.
Themes
writing
observation
creativity
Mood
reflective
inspired
Type
advice
creative
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- screenwriting
- journalism
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
character development
world‑building
narrative intuition
Questions to Reflect On
- How does deep observation change your plot?
- What details reveal a character’s true motives?
A Different Perspective
If attention is superficial, the story may lack depth and authenticity.
![“I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with [my wife] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and I just had such a strong reaction to the prayer. And I was really emotionally - I felt really grounded at that time. And so to be in this prayer and the imam is doing the prayer in…” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d31/mahershala-ali-6687_attention_i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with_3083.jpg)
