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You write for two people, yourself and your audience, who are usually better educated and at least as smart.
Tony Hillerman
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Writing is a dual process where you express yourself while also considering the knowledge and intelligence of your audience.

This quote by Tony Hillerman emphasizes the importance of connecting with both oneself and the audience in the writing process. It suggests that while a writer should bring their own voice and ideas to the page, they must also be mindful of the audience's perspective, intelligence, and education level, which can greatly enhance the effectiveness of their communication.

Themes

WritingAudienceExpressionCommunicationIntelligence

In practice

Example use cases

In a writing workshop, this quote can be used to encourage participants to think about their audience.

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