“One of my pet theories is that readers have built-in BS detectors that enable them to recognize insincerity in writers. David [Halberstam] was sincerity to the core. He believed in what he wrote, and that conviction conveyed itself to readers.” TheoryReaderBuiltConvictionCorePetSincerityInsincerity Author:Jonathan Yardley
“There is a secret and wholesome conviction in the heart of every man or woman who has written a book that it should be no easy matter for an intelligent reader to lay down that book unfinished. There is a pardonable impression among reviewers that half an hour in its company is sufficient.” MenShouldHeartBookMatterEasyHoursSecretHalfCompanyWrittenReaderIntelligentLaysCriticsConvictionEvery ManImpressionSufficientUnfinishedReviewers Book:In the Dozy Hours, and Other Papers Source: In the Dozy Hours, and Other Papers
“The writer is driven by his conviction that some truths aren't arrived at so easily, that life is still full of mystery, that it might be better for you, Dear Reader, if you went back to the Living section of your newspaper because this is the dying section and you don't really want to be here.” IfsWantStillsMightLife IsMysteryDyingReaderDearConvictionDrivenNewspapersSections Author:Don DeLillo