Show the reader what the character thinks about, and then the reader will think about it too. George V. Higgins More Quotes by George V. Higgins More Quotes From George V. Higgins A cop told me, a long time ago, that there’s no substitute for knowing what you’re doing. Most of us scribblers do not. The ones that’re any good are aware of this. The rest write silly stuff. The trouble is this: The readers know it. George V. Higgins knowing silly writing Politics is a choice of enemas. You're gonna get it up the ass, no matter what you do. George V. Higgins politics choices matter The seductiveness of baseball is that almost everyone with an abiding interest in it knows exactly how it should be played. And secretly believes that he could do it, if only God had seen fit to make him just a little bit less clumsy. George V. Higgins abiding baseball believe The characters are telling you the story. I'm not telling you the story, they're going to do it. If I do it right, you will get the whole story. George V. Higgins whole stories character Egotism is the art of seeing in yourself what others cannot see. George V. Higgins narcissism ego art Life is hard but being stupid makes it harder. George V. Higgins harder life-is-hard stupid Writing is the only trade I know of in which sniveling confessions of extreme incompetence are taken as credentials probative of powers to astound the multitude. George V. Higgins incompetence taken writing The Red Sox are a religion. Every year we re-enact the agony and the temptation in the Garden. Baseball child's play? Hell, up here in Boston it's a passion play. George V. Higgins You cannot write well without data. George V. Higgins wells data writing The received image of a writer is that of an unproductive sensitive who suffers from the vapors, is enslaved by his gonads, falls victim to romantic swoons and passes out at deadlines. George V. Higgins vapor suffering fall What You Lose on the Swings You Make Up on the Merry-Go-Round. George V. Higgins merry-go-round swings rounds Rental formal wear of the sky-blue, brocade and shiny varieties is favored by upwardly mobile young gangsters drafted as groomsmen for weddings. George V. Higgins formal sky blue Nobody ever got started on a career as a writer by exercising good judgment, and no one ever will, either, so the sooner you break the habit of relying on yours, the faster you will advance. George V. Higgins judgment careers exercise Egotism: The art of seeing in yourself what others cannot see. George V. Higgins others yourself see art Data is what distinguishes the dilettante from the artist. George V. Higgins dilettante distinguishes data artist
