"Storytelling and elegant style don't always go hand in hand"

This quote by Donna Tartt recommends that there is not always a direct correlation between storytelling and sophisticated style. To put it simply, one does not always cause the other. It is possible to have a story that is informed in a simple, uncomplicated manner, with no embellishments or flourishes. On the other hand, it is likewise possible to have a story that is informed in a fancy, sophisticated style, without necessarily having an engaging narrative. In either case, the 2 aspects of storytelling and elegant style can exist separately of each other. Donna Tartt's quote serves as a tip that the 2 do not constantly need to go hand in hand, and that it is possible to have one without the other.