"The story you envision as you start..." - Quote by Dave Barry
The story you envision as you start out is always a great story; when the facts turn out to be different from, or more complex than, what you expected, your first reaction is always disappointment. That's when you must fight the urge to bend the story to your preconceived notions. First, it's dishonest. And second, in the end, the truth is always the best story.
More by Dave Barry
“Alan Zweibel is the funniest writer in the world. He might be even funnier when he's naked, but I'm afraid to find out.”
“The doctor looked at my cardiogram and made that "hmmmm" noise that doctors are taught in medical school so they won't come right out and say "UH-oh!"”
“At certain times each year, we journalists do almost nothing except apply for the Pulitzers and several dozen other major prizes. During these times you could walk right into most newsrooms and commit a multiple axe murder naked, and it wouldn't get reported in the paper because the reporters and editors would all be too busy filling out prize applications.”
More on Writing
“For a true writer each book should be a new beginning, where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment.”
“I could write shorter sermons but when I get started I'm too lazy to stop”
“Don't you like to write letters? I do because it's such a swell way to keep from working and yet feel you've done something.”
More on Truth
“Most of these people will never make the headlines and their names will not appear in Who's Who. Yet when years have rolled past and when the blazing light of truth is focused on this marvelous age in which we live - men and women will know and children will be taught that we have a finer land, a better people, a more noble civilization - because these humble children of God were willing to suffer for righteousness' sake.”
“Reality is a unified whole, but thought cuts it up into fragments.”
“If you know you are right, stay the course even though the whole world seems to be against you and everyone you know questions your judgment. When you prevail--and you eventually will if you stick to the job--they will all tell you that they knew all along you could do it.”