Painterly small wooden writing desk with an open book, quill, pale flower and red wax seal.

Original artwork, not a still

Jack Kerouac

I want to work in revelations, not just spin silly tales for money. I want to fish as deep down as possible into my own subconscious in the belief that once that far down, everyone will understand because they are the same that far down.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

Writing is imagined as a search beneath surface invention. The fishing metaphor gives that search depth, while the hoped-for result is connection with other people. Personal inward exploration becomes valuable because the speaker believes it can uncover experiences that are widely shared.

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