It's akin to style, what I'm talking about, but it isn't style alone. It is the writer's particular and unmistakable signature on everything he writes. It is his world and no other. This is one of the things that distinguishes one writer from another. Not talent. There's plenty of that around. But a writer who has some special way of looking at things and who gives artistic expression to that way of looking: that writer may be around for a time.
In this passage, Carver emphasizes that a writer's unique essence transcends mere style. It entails a distinctive signature that permeates their work, reflecting their personal worldview. This individual perspective is what truly differentiates one writer from another, rather than simply talent, which is widely available among many writers.
Carver highlights the importance of a personal approach to storytelling, suggesting that writers who articulate their singular vision artistically can have a lasting impact. This underscores the idea that it is not just the skill of writing that matters, but how a writer uniquely interprets and expresses their experiences and observations.
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All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
