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The experience was an exciting one for me. It illustrated that writing was about risk-about risking everything. And that the value of the writing is not in what you publish but in its consequences. If you set out to describe reality, then the influence of the writing is upon reality. (A 1989 interview with Granta magazine founder Bill Buford. Reprinted in Adbusters Magazine #71.)

Ryszard Kapuscinski#14

JournalismWritingImpactRiskTruth

About this quote

What does it mean?
Writing involves risk and influences reality, not just publication.
In plain terms
Writing is risky and changes the world, not just the page.
What can you take from it?
Authentic writing impacts reality regardless of publication status.

Where it applies

  • journalism training
  • author reflection
  • freedom of speech

Putting it to work

  • assess writing risk
  • evaluate impact
  • prepare for censorship

Questions to consider

  • What makes writing risky?
  • How does text change reality?

Another view

It assumes all writing inherently has consequences.

More from Ryszard Kapuscinski

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