There is only one thing a writer can write about: what is in front of his senses at the moment of writing... I am a recording instrument... I do not presume to impose “story” “plot” “continuity”... Insofar as I succeed in Direct recording of certain areas of psychic process I may have limited function... I am not an entertainer... William S. Burroughs
About This Quote

Jean-Paul Sartre said, "There is only one thing a writer can write about: what is in front of his senses at the moment of writing. I am a recording instrument; I do not presume to impose “story,” “plot,” “continuity”—whatever. Insofar as I succeed in recording certain areas of psychic process, I may have limited function. I am not an entertainer." This quote implies that writers should focus on what they are doing at the time of writing instead of trying to force the work to bring about some type of conclusion.

Source: Naked Lunch

Some Similar Quotes
  1. Never love anyone who treats you like you're ordinary. - Oscar Wilde

  2. We have to allow ourselves to be loved by the people who really love us, the people who really matter. Too much of the time, we are blinded by our own pursuits of people to love us, people that don't even matter, while all that... - C. Joybell C.

  3. I wonder how many people don't get the one they want, but end up with the one they're supposed to be with. - Fannie Flagg

  4. That's what people do who love you. They put their arms around you and love you when you're not so lovable. - Deb Caletti

  5. The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day. - David Foster Wallace

More Quotes By William S. Burroughs
  1. I'm saying that I'm a moody, insecure, narrow-minded, jealous, borderline homicidal bitch, and I want you to promise me that you're okay with that, because it's who I am, and you're what I need.

  2. If I die, I will wait for you, do you understand? No matter how long. I will watch from beyond to make sure you live every year you have to its fullest, and then we’ll have so much to talk about when I see you...

  3. She's my kitten, and no one else's.

  4. Would you mind repeating that? I'm afraid I might have lost my wits altogether and just hallucinated what I've longed to hear.

  5. Aside from the obvious, Francesca, what do you want in return for supplying information?” Bones asked, getting back to the subject. “You to take me, ” she replied at once. “Not gonna happen! ” I spat, squeezing him possessively. Three sets of widened eyes fixed...

Related Topics