The ‘experimental’ writer, then, is simply following the…
“The ‘experimental’ writer, then, is simply following the story’s commands to the best of his human ability. The writer is not the story, the story is the story. See? Sometimes this is very hard to accept and sometimes too easy. On the one hand, there’s the writer who can’t face his fate: that the telling of a story has nothing at all to do with him; on the other hand, there’s the one who faces it too well: that the telling of the story has nothing at all to do with him”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of Fiction, Thomas Ligotti, 1999
The writer must obey the story’s demands, recognizing the story’s autonomy from the author’s ego.
In simple terms: Writers follow the story, not the other way around.
Key Takeaway
Let the story guide you, not your ego.
Themes
creativity
authorial humility
storytelling
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenwriting
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
Narrative autonomy
self-transcendence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal voice with story demands?
- When does authorial control enhance a narrative?
A Different Perspective
Stories may resist authorial control, causing tension.