How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
That's what I love about writing. Once you get the words down on paper, in print, they start to make sense. It's like you don't know what you think until it dribbles from your brain down your arm and into your hand and out through your fingers and shows up on the computer screen, and you read it and realize: That's really true; I believe that. (1.42)
Notice how John loves the reality that comes with writing something—it's almost as though the act of writing something corroborates it, regardless of if it's actually true. He realizes it's more about what people believe than what actually happens; that's why people write.
Quote #2
Every time I read that over, I feel like I'm looking down through layer after layer of her, until I'm looking more deeply inside this person I don't even know than I've ever looked inside myself. I want to write like that too. Maybe I even want to be like that. And I sure as hell want to meet her. (1.53)
Marisol's writing reveals pieces of her identity that she usually keeps hidden, so John feels like he knows her before he even meets her. It's curious that he claims he wants to write like that, too, because when he does pen a story, he shies away from getting too personal with it.
Quote #3
"So why bother then, if it's just some half-assed way to waste your time? If you're not committed to having people read what you've written? What have we been talking about all morning?" (2.39)
When he claims his writing isn't going to change the world, Marisol asks him what's the point. She thinks writing is valuable and meaningful. Sure, not everything will change the world, but why try if that's not what you're aiming for?