Able Quote by Tess Gerritsen
“Writing is very much an emotional process; it requires you to be very in touch with your feelings. That is the opposite of what you're taught as a medical doctor. We're supposed to be detached and logical. Maybe because I started off as a writer and then became a doctor, I'm able to integrate those two.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Author interview, 2015, published in The Guardian
The quote highlights the tension between emotional creativity in writing and the logical detachment expected in medicine, and how blending them can enrich both practices.
In simple terms: Writing needs feeling; medicine demands logic; balancing both can be powerful.
Key Takeaway
Embrace both emotion and analysis.
Themes
creativity
emotion
professionalism
balance
Mood
reflective
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
advice
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- writing workshops
- medical training
- patient communication
- creative therapy
Key Concepts
empathy
cognitive flexibility
interdisciplinary integration
Questions to Reflect On
- How can doctors cultivate emotional awareness without compromising clinical judgment?
- What practices help writers maintain analytical rigor?
A Different Perspective
Balancing may be challenging when institutional cultures prioritize one over the other.
