I like writing that puts the needle right into the vein. I don't think, when I'm writing, "Tell a good story" or "find a meaning." I'm thinking phrase by phrase, make it tight, make it good. Get the idea out in language I can bear. I think there's something musical about being impatient with boring sentences - it's not that I don't have boring sentences, God knows I do, but I'm impatient with them.

I like writing that puts the needle right into the vein. I don't think, when I'm writing, "Tell a good story" or "find a meaning." I'm thinking phrase by phrase, make it tight, make it good. Get the idea out in language I can bear. I think there's something musical about being impatient with boring sentences - it's not that I don't have boring sentences, God knows I do, but I'm impatient with them.

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This quote captures a raw and intimate approach to writing that resonates deeply with anyone who engages in the craft. The metaphor of "putting the needle right into the vein" evokes an image of writing that is immediate and vital, something that ought to connect directly to the life force of the reader or the writer. It dismisses the conventional objectives of storytelling like "telling a good story" or "finding a meaning," favoring instead a more visceral, phrase-by-phrase process.

The author's focus is on the construction of each phrase, making it "tight" and "good," a process that is simultaneously precise and almost musical. This conveys how writing, at its core, is not just about the content but about the form and rhythm that carry ideas. The concept of making the idea come out in "language I can bear" suggests a personal struggle and negotiation with language — it must be authentic and bearable, a reflection not only of expression but of endurance.

The impatience with "boring sentences" underlines a relentless pursuit of intensity and engagement in writing. It acknowledges that boring sentences exist—an honest admission that perfection is elusive—but emphasizes the refusal to settle for them. This perspective celebrates the energy and urgency that can make writing impactful, urging writers and readers alike to seek out that spark of vitality in literature. Overall, the quote honors the craft of writing as a livewire experience that balances personal authenticity, formal precision, and the pursuit of expressive urgency.

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June 16, 2025

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