Yes, the context influences meaning, so it's true.
Golden retrievers are more loyal, friendly, and smart than a pitbull, but on the other hand, Pitbulls are more protective, so it depends why you want the dog, if you want a guard dog than a pitbull would suit you, but if you want a companion dog then get a golden retriever, I would take the Golden retreiever.
Answer: He is referring to his discovery that the secret to a creative writing for him was using a method of word-association to write fiction.
Explanation: He would get up every morning and write down at his desk any string of words that would come to him. Then he would begin to develop a story from it.
He would take walks along familiar places and go down memory lane writing on acquintances and loved ones he once knew or that had passed on.
