In other words, don't be reductive. Often, writers will rush to an ending that completes, or sums up, or reduces their story as opposed to moving to a place where it goes to something they may not understand and that may be incomplete but is more honest. That rush doesn't do a service to anyone. It doesn't do a service to the work, and it doesn't do a service to the reader. We know that things are complex; we want things to be complex so that, together, we can look deeply into the layers of an open system.
by Aimee Bender
(0 Reviews)

Aimee Bender, in her essay from "The Writer's Notebook," emphasizes the importance of complexity in storytelling. She critiques the tendency of writers to quickly resolve their narratives with tidy conclusions that oversimplify the themes and emotions involved. Rather than providing clarity, these rushed endings often dilute the richness of the story, failing to acknowledge the intricate realities of life. Bender suggests that an honest exploration of complexities allows both the writer and the reader to engage more genuinely with the material.

By not rushing to a definitive conclusion, writers create space for ambiguity and uncertainty, reflecting the true nature of human experiences. Bender advocates for embracing the incomplete and the unknown in storytelling, as this approach fosters a deeper connection with readers who crave authenticity in literature. Overall, her insights serve as a reminder that literature should mirror the multifaceted and often confusing aspects of reality, allowing for a more profound engagement with the narrative.

Stats

Categories
Author
Votes
0
Page views
1
Update
January 29, 2025

Rate the Quote

Add Comment & Review

User Reviews

Based on 0 reviews
5 Star
0
4 Star
0
3 Star
0
2 Star
0
1 Star
0
Add Comment & Review
We'll never share your email with anyone else.
More »

Popular quotes

My life amounts to no more than one drop in a limitless ocean. Yet what is any ocean, but a multitude of drops?
by David Mitchell
A half-read book is a half-finished love affair.
by David Mitchell
The pollenless trees were genomed to repel bugs and birds; the stagnant air reeked of insecticide.
by David Mitchell
Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.
by David Mitchell
Travel far enough, you meet yourself.
by David Mitchell
I believe there is another world waiting for us. A better world. And I'll be waiting for you there.
by David Mitchell
People pontificate, "Suicide is selfishness." Career churchmen like Pater go a step further and call in a cowardly assault on the living. Oafs argue this specious line for varying reason: to evade fingers of blame, to impress one's audience with one's mental fiber, to vent anger, or just because one lacks the necessary suffering to sympathize. Cowardice is nothing to do with it - suicide takes considerable courage. Japanese have the right idea. No, what's selfish is to demand another to endure an intolerable existence, just to spare families, friends, and enemies a bit of soul-searching.
by David Mitchell
A random sequence of seemingly unrelated events.
by David Mitchell
You say you're 'depressed' - all i see is resilience. You are allowed to feel messed up and inside out. It doesn't mean you're defective - it just means you're human.
by David Mitchell
Books don't offer real escape, but they can stop a mind scratching itself raw.
by David Mitchell