Reader Intelligence Quotes

No one can write decently who is distrustful of the reader's intelligence or whose attitude is patronizing.

Too many writers of fiction don't give the reader enough credit.

If they had said my writing wasn't good enough, fair enough, that's an opinion. But to say it's too complex is to insult the intelligence of the so-called young.

It is unsafe to take your reader for more of a fool than he is.

That is as true for fiction or non-fiction. The writer has to really know their subject. It is really important to remember that the readers are a lot smarter than the writer. Also, good writing has to do with rewriting. You will never get it right the first time. So you rewrite and rewrite again until you get it right. Until you, and the reader, will be able to visualize what you're writing about.

Compose aloud: poetry is a sound. Never explain- your reader is as smart as you. Your reader is not just any reader, but is the rare one with ears in his head.

In the first person, the readers feel smart, like it's them solving the case.

For me, the game would be to assume a very intelligent reader who can extrapolate a lot from a little. And that's become my definition of art; to get that pitch just right, where I can put a hint on page three, and the reader's ears go up a bit, as opposed to dropping it all on the first page.

My personal theory is that younger audiences disdain books - not because those readers are dumber than past readers, but because today's reader is smarter.

I find my readers to be very smart, and there is no reason to write dumb.

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

Much brass has been sounded and many cymbals tinkled in the name of advertising; but the advertisements which persuade people to act are written by men who have an abiding respect for the intelligence of their readers, and a deep sincerity regarding the merits of the goods they have to sell.

Readers are very, very savvy, and I don't want to insult them by making them think I'm too lazy to get it right.

I really believe that readers are smart and sophisticated enough to realize that the author is not the narrator of his novels.