A novel must be exceptionally good to live as long as the average cat. Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield averagecatexceptionally Change image and share on social
A novel, of course, is a fully self-contained work of art. You pick it up off the shelf, open it, and there it is - a whole universe waiting for you to enter. A screenplay is just a blueprint for making a movie. Until the movie is actually filmed, the script really means nothing. John Niven artblueprintcontain share on social
A novel requires a certain kind of world-building and also a certain kind of closure, ultimately. Whereas with a short story you have this sense that there are hinges that the reader doesn't see. Dan Chaon buildclosurehinge Change image and share on social
A novel's whole pattern is rarely apparent at the outset of writing, or even at the end; that is when the writer finds out what a novel is about, and the job becomes one of understanding and deepening or sharpening what is already written. That is finding the theme. Diane Johnson apparentdeepenend share on social
A novel should be a book of questions, not a book of answers. Hilary Mantel answerbookquestion Change image and share on social
A novel should be an experience and convey an emotional truth rather than arguments. Joyce Cary argumentconveyemotional Change image and share on social
A novel takes place over time. It's a historical narrative, and it needs to have a series of peaks and valleys and the move through. You can't just start at the highest pitch and stay there, but you can in a lyric poem. Edward Hirsch highhistoricallyric share on social
A novel that does not uncover a hitherto unknown segment of existence is immoral. Knowledge is the novel's only morality. Milan Kundera existencehithertoimmoral Change image and share on social
A novel that features real people is complicated, but in the end, that extra challenge is all for the good. Rick Bass challengecomplicateend Change image and share on social
A novel usually takes me two years. A year to research and plan and dream. Then a year to write. Rose Tremain dreamplanresearch Change image and share on social
