There's no present left. This is the problem for a…
![“There's no present left. This is the problem for a novelist. [The problem] is the present is gone. We're all living in the future constantly . . . Back in the day Leo Tolstoy -- what a sweetheart of a count and of a writer -- in the 1860's he wanted to write about the Napoleonic Campaign, about…” quote by Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/24f/gary-shteyngart-2177_future_there-s-no-present-left-this-is-the-prob_3224050.png)
““There's no present left. This is the problem for a novelist. [The problem] is the present is gone. We're all living in the future constantly . . . Back in the day Leo Tolstoy -- what a sweetheart of a count and of a writer -- in the 1860's he wanted to write about the Napoleonic Campaign, about 1812. If you write about 1812 in 1860, a horse is still a horse. A carriage is still a carriage. Obviously, there are been some technological advancements, et cetera, but you don't have to worry about explaining the next killer [iPhone] app or the next Facebook because right now things are happening so quickly. ("Gary Shteyngart: Finding 'Love' In A Dismal Future", NPR interview, August 2, 2010)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote highlights the difficulty writers face when the present feels fleeting, making it hard to anchor stories in a stable time.
In simple terms: Writers struggle because the present is constantly shifting.
Key Takeaway
Focus on timeless human experiences.
Themes
writing
temporal perception
modernity
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- creative process
- historical fiction
Key Concepts
historicity
technological change
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers make stories feel immediate despite rapid change?
- What aspects of humanity remain constant?
A Different Perspective
It may overstate the impact of technology on narrative relevance.