Disappointed in his hope that I would give him the…
““Disappointed in his hope that I would give him the fictional equivalent of “One Hundred Ways of Cooking Eggs” or the “Carnet de la Ménagère,” he began to cross-examine me about my methods of “collecting material.” Did I keep a notebook or a daily journal? Did I jot down thoughts and phrases in a cardindex? Did I systematically frequent the drawing-rooms of the rich and fashionable? Or did I, on the contrary, inhabit the Sussex downs? or spend my evenings looking for “copy” in East End gin-palaces? Did I think it was wise to frequent the company of intellectuals? Was it a good thing for a writer of novels to try to be well educated, or should he confine his reading exclusively to other novels? And so on. I did my best to reply to these questions — as non-committally, of course, as I could. And as the young man still looked rather disappointed, I volunteered a final piece of advice, gratuitously. “My young friend,” I said, “if you want to be a psychological novelist and write about human beings, the best thing you can do is to keep a pair of cats.” And with that I left him. I hope, for his own sake, that he took my advice.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Creative work thrives on diverse experiences; practical habits like keeping cats can ground a psychological novelist.
In simple terms: Varied life and simple habits enrich writing.
Key Takeaway
Embrace varied experiences and simple routines for depth.
Themes
creativity
writing
habits
observation
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- artistic development
- research methods
Key Concepts
literature
psychology
daily practice
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance structure with spontaneity?
- What simple habit grounds your creative process?
A Different Perspective
Over‑reliance on routine can stifle originality.