--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But the point is, when the writer turns…" description: "\"“But the point is, when the writer turns to address the reader, he or she must not only speak to me—naively dazzled and wholly enchanted by the complex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_but-the-point-is-when-the-writer-turns-t_308349.png" --- # But the point is, when the writer turns to address the… ![“But the point is, when the writer turns to address the reader, he or she must not only speak to me—naively dazzled and wholly enchanted by the complexities of the trickery, and thus all but incapable of any criticism, so that, indeed, he can claim, if he likes, priestly contact with the greater…” quote by Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_but-the-point-is-when-the-writer-turns-t_308349.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_but-the-point-is-when-the-writer-turns-t_308349.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/samuel-r-delany-2591_books_but-the-point-is-when-the-writer-turns-t_308349.png) > ““But the point is, when the writer turns to address the reader, he or she must not only speak to me—naively dazzled and wholly enchanted by the complexities of the trickery, and thus all but incapable of any criticism, so that, indeed, he can claim, if he likes, priestly contact with the greater powers that, hurled at him by the muse, travel the parsecs from the Universe’s furthest shoals, cleaving stars on the way, to shatter the specific moment and sizzle his brains in their pan, rattle his teeth in their sockets, make his muscles howl against his bones, and to galvanize his pen so the ink bubbles and blisters on the nib (nor would I hear her claim to such as other than a metaphor for the most profound truths of skill, craft, or mathematical and historical conjuration)—but she or he must also speak to my student, for whom it was an okay story, with just so much description.”” [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer must address both the dazzled reader and the critical student, balancing wonder with analytical clarity. **In simple terms:** Writers should inspire and also be clear for analysis. Key Takeaway Balance enchantment with critique. Themes writing reader critique creativity Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - creative writing workshops - literature classes - author talks Key Concepts narrative voice metafiction literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance awe and analysis? - What techniques keep readers engaged yet critical? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on wonder can obscure meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Hurled Muse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurled-muse-2931410/) [Incapable Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable-criticism-2931412/) [Metaphor Profound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor-profound-2931413/) [Profound truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound-truth/) [Reader Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-speak-2931411/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-turns-1990774/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [A writer is someone who tells you one thing so someday he can tell his readers another thing: what he was thinking but declined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/a-writer-is-someone-who-tells-you-one-thing-so-someday-he-can-tell/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [A writer turns his life into material, and if you’re in his life, he uses yours, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-kirn/a-writer-turns-his-life-into-material-and-if-you-re-in-his-life-he/) [Walter Kirn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-kirn/) > [Here's what I love: when a great writer turns me into a Jew from Chicago, a lesbian out of South Carolina, or a black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/here-s-what-i-love-when-a-great-writer-turns-me-into-a-jew-from/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“I am in favour of illusion, not alienation... 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And for the adolescent male - pummeled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/the-pulp-hero-though-he-may-be-a-renegade-is-a-guy-who-doesn-t-feel/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“they were nice in a useless sort of way, which is, after all, the only way to be truly nice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/they-were-nice-in-a-useless-sort-of-way-which-is-after-all-the-only/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [From 1968 on, I was pretty much the black, gay SF writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/from-1968-on-i-was-pretty-much-the-black-gay-sf-writer/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Neurotics, proceed with delusions of grandeur. Napoleon Bonaparte, take the lead. Jesus Christ, bring up the rear. Simulate severe depression. Non-communicative with repressed hostility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/neurotics-proceed-with-delusions-of-grandeur-napoleon-bonaparte-take/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“Do you follow the wrestling? Most people think it's illegal, but you can watch it there. Ruby and Python are on display this evening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/do-you-follow-the-wrestling-most-people-think-it-s-illegal-but-you/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [Spending practically every minute of your day on pure survival is an absolutely boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/spending-practically-every-minute-of-your-day-on-pure-survival-is-an/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [When what is is congruent to what is supposed, the reaction is functional and the mental processes competent. 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Delany quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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