Awareness Quote by Tom Wolfe
“don't just describe an emotion, arouse it, make them experience it, by manipulating the symbol of the emotion, and sometimes we have to come into awareness through the back door.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: "The Art of Narrative", 1995
Effective writing should evoke feelings, not just label them, using symbolic cues and indirect awareness techniques.
In simple terms: Make readers feel, not just read.
Use symbols to trigger emotion.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- advertising
- public speaking
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure symbols convey the intended feeling?
- What indirect cues best evoke emotion?
Symbols may be misinterpreted, reducing clarity.