Daily Dialogue — November 3, 2015

Jamal: Why are your socks inside out? 
Forrester: Because socks are badly designed, the seams are on the inside, hurt the toes. In some cultures it’s considered good luck to being wearing something inside out. 
Jamal: You believe that? 
Forrester: No, but it’s like praying, what do you risk? And I do go outside, how do you think those windows get cleaned? Now, about this Professor of yours, how did it feel having him tell you what you can’t do? 
Jamal: Like he knew he was better than me. 
Forrester: Huh, well then let’s show him what you can do. Why is it that the words we write for ourselves are always so much better than the words we write for others? Move. Sit. Go ahead… 
Jamal: Go ahead and what? 
Forrester: Write. 
Jamal: What are you doing? 
Forrester: I’m writing…like you’ll be once you start punching those keys. Is there a problem? 
Jamal: No, I’m just thinking. 
Forrester: No, no thinking — that comes later. You write your first draft with your heart and you rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is… to write, not to think! 
Jamal: Jesus.

— Finding Forrester (2000), written by James Schramm

The Daily Dialogue theme for the month: Writers and Writing. Today’s suggestion by James Schramm.

Trivia: The famous line from the film, “You’re the man now, Dog!”, served as the inspiration for the popular internet site YTMND.

Dialogue On Dialogue: Commentary by James: “Advice that I have to constantly remind myself to take. Rich won a Nicoll Fellowship with this script. Gives us all hope.”

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