“On a more technical level, a story takes a lot of words. And to generate words and phrases and images and so on, that will compel the reader to continue reading - that stand a chance of really grabbing a reader - the writer has to work out of a place of, let's say, familiarity and affection. The matrix of the story has to be made out of stuff the writer really knows about and likes. The writer can't be stretching and (purely) inventing all the time. Well, I can't, anyway.” KnowsWellsMadeI CanStoriesReadingStuffChanceLevelsReaderAffectionWork OutLikesPhrasesFamiliarityStretchingInventingGrabbing Author:George Saunders
“The Greeks used to use the same stories, the same mythology, time after time, different authors. There was no premium placed upon an original story, and indeed, Shakespeare likewise. A lot of people wrote plays about great kings. They didn't expect a brand-new story. It was what that new author made of the old story. It is probably the same now. We disguise it by inventing what seem to be new stories, but they're basically the same story anyway.” PeopleMadeDifferentPlayStoriesUseSeemsUsedKingsOriginalsMythologyBrandsGreekDisguiseInventingBrand NewPremium Author:Arthur Miller