Books Quote by Tony Kushner
“I think that when you're writing plays, and I think it's also true with novels, it helps to have an ear for the music of language, for what we call poetry, for the sound effects and the way that the sound can produce sensual feeling at odds with or consonant with the content of the work. Your work is also gorgeous writing. It's very unfortunate when you open a novel that everybody's loving and it's just, you know, an excruciatingly bad sentence.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Commencement Address, Columbia University, 2005
Writing benefits from listening to language's rhythm, using poetic sound to evoke feeling that may align or clash with meaning.
In simple terms: Language's music shapes emotional impact.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate ear for lyrical prose.
Themes
writing
poetry
sound
emotion
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
Type
creative
educational
When to use this quote
- playwriting
- novel writing
- editing
- literary workshops
Key Concepts
prosody
sensory imagery
literary aesthetics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does sound influence narrative tone?
- When does lyrical language hinder comprehension?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on sound can obscure clarity.
