Good writing Quote by William Gibson
“To present a whole world that doesn’t exist and make it seem real, we have to more or less pretend we’re polymaths. That’s just the act of all good writing.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Wired Magazine, 1995
Good writing requires pretending to master many disciplines, creating a believable world that doesn’t truly exist.
In simple terms: Writers must act like experts in many fields to craft convincing fiction.
Key Takeaway
Embrace interdisciplinary learning for richer storytelling.
Themes
fiction
writing
interdisciplinary
creativity
world‑building
Mood
inspired
thoughtful
imaginative
Type
literary
creative
When to use this quote
- Creative writing workshops
- novel drafting
- screenwriting
- game design
- education
Key Concepts
Narrative craft
imagination
research
authorship
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers balance breadth and depth?
- When does world‑building become distraction?
A Different Perspective
Pretending expertise can lead to superficiality if not grounded in real knowledge.
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