---
title: "11 Written Novels Quotes by 10 authors"
description: "Browse 11 Written Novels quotes by 10 authors. Discover the best Written Novels sayings and thoughts."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/donna-tartt-391_books_i-ve-written-only-two-novels-but-they-re_2258240.jpg"
---

> [I've written only two novels, but they're both long ones, and they each took a decade to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/i-ve-written-only-two-novels-but-they-re-both-long-ones-and-they-each/)

[Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/donna-tartt-391_books_i-ve-written-only-two-novels-but-they-re_2258240.jpg)

> [I've written six novels and four pieces of nonfiction, so I don't really have a genre these days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-ve-written-six-novels-and-four-pieces-of-nonfiction-so-i-don-t/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/anne-lamott-188_books_i-ve-written-six-novels-and-four-pieces_2185218.png)

> [I'm disappointed by well-written novels that only deal with two or three people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-m-disappointed-by-well-written-novels-that-only-deal-with-two-or/)

[Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/ann-patchett-670_books_i-m-disappointed-by-well-written-novels_1397005.jpg)

> [I suppose I have written novels to find out what I thought about something and poems to find out what I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-suppose-i-have-written-novels-to-find-out-what-i-thought-about/)

[May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/may-sarton-897_books_i-suppose-i-have-written-novels-to-find_645840.jpg)

> [We have different kinds of intimacy with many, many people. I'm disappointed by well-written novels that only deal with two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/we-have-different-kinds-of-intimacy-with-many-many-people-i-m/)

[Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/275/ann-patchett-670_books_we-have-different-kinds-of-intimacy-with_894565.jpg)

> [I have written every one of my novels to convince somebody of something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-puig/i-have-written-every-one-of-my-novels-to-convince-somebody-of/)

[Manuel Puig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-puig/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/manuel-puig-9471_books_i-have-written-every-one-of-my-novels-to_1548302.jpg)

> [Writing is my number one passion. I've written two novels. I've written a screenplay. I also write short stories and poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/writing-is-my-number-one-passion-i-ve-written-two-novels-i-ve-written/)

[Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/evangeline-lilly-1168_books_writing-is-my-number-one-passion-i-ve-wr_1978876.jpg)

> [Well-written novels make you more empathetic towards other people. You can identify with someone who isn't you. You can change your identity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-tokarczuk/well-written-novels-make-you-more-empathetic-towards-other-people-you/)

[Olga Tokarczuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-tokarczuk/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/olga-tokarczuk-6444_books_well-written-novels-make-you-more-empath_2173618.jpg)

> [I didn't get anything published until I was thirty-three, and yet I'd written five novels and six or seven plays. The plays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/i-didn-t-get-anything-published-until-i-was-thirty-three-and-yet-i-d/)

[Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/edmund-white-2376_anything_i-didn-t-get-anything-published-until-i_2486307.png)

> [I'm a natural clown, I suppose, in writing, and one has to accept that; I can't do anything about it. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/i-m-a-natural-clown-i-suppose-in-writing-and-one-has-to-accept-that-i/)

[Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/anthony-burgess-1167_accept_i-m-a-natural-clown-i-suppose-in-writing_449149.jpg)

> [Poorly written novels--no matter how pious and edifying the behavior of the characters--are not good in themselves and are therefore not really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/poorly-written-novels-no-matter-how-pious-and-edifying-the-behavior/)

[Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/flannery-o-connor-639_behavior_poorly-written-novels-no-matter-how-piou_1915048.png)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "ItemList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-novels/#itemlist",
            "name": "Written Novels Quotes",
            "numberOfItems": 11,
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I've written only two novels, but they're both long ones, and they each took a decade to write.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Donna Tartt"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/i-ve-written-only-two-novels-but-they-re-both-long-ones-and-they-each/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/donna-tartt-391_books_i-ve-written-only-two-novels-but-they-re_2258240.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/donna-tartt-391_books_i-ve-written-only-two-novels-but-they-re_2258240.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/donna-tartt-391_books_i-ve-written-only-two-novels-but-they-re_2258240.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I've written only two novels, but they're both long ones, and they each took a decade to write.” — Donna Tartt",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I've written six novels and four pieces of nonfiction, so I don't really have a genre these days.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Anne Lamott"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-ve-written-six-novels-and-four-pieces-of-nonfiction-so-i-don-t/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/anne-lamott-188_books_i-ve-written-six-novels-and-four-pieces_2185218.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/anne-lamott-188_books_i-ve-written-six-novels-and-four-pieces_2185218.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/anne-lamott-188_books_i-ve-written-six-novels-and-four-pieces_2185218.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I've written six novels and four pieces of nonfiction, so I don't really have a genre these days.” — Anne Lamott",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I'm disappointed by well-written novels that only deal with two or three people.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ann Patchett"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-m-disappointed-by-well-written-novels-that-only-deal-with-two-or/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/ann-patchett-670_books_i-m-disappointed-by-well-written-novels_1397005.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/ann-patchett-670_books_i-m-disappointed-by-well-written-novels_1397005.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbf/ann-patchett-670_books_i-m-disappointed-by-well-written-novels_1397005.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I'm disappointed by well-written novels that only deal with two or three people.” — Ann Patchett",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I suppose I have written novels to find out what I thought about something and poems to find out what I felt about something.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "May Sarton"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-suppose-i-have-written-novels-to-find-out-what-i-thought-about/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/may-sarton-897_books_i-suppose-i-have-written-novels-to-find_645840.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/may-sarton-897_books_i-suppose-i-have-written-novels-to-find_645840.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3da/may-sarton-897_books_i-suppose-i-have-written-novels-to-find_645840.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I suppose I have written novels to find out what I thought about something and poems to find out what I felt…” — May Sarton",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 5,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "We have different kinds of intimacy with many, many people. I'm disappointed by well-written novels that only deal with two or three people.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Ann Patchett"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/we-have-different-kinds-of-intimacy-with-many-many-people-i-m/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/275/ann-patchett-670_books_we-have-different-kinds-of-intimacy-with_894565.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/275/ann-patchett-670_books_we-have-different-kinds-of-intimacy-with_894565.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/275/ann-patchett-670_books_we-have-different-kinds-of-intimacy-with_894565.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“We have different kinds of intimacy with many, many people. I'm disappointed by well-written novels that…” — Ann Patchett",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 6,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I have written every one of my novels to convince somebody of something.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Manuel Puig"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-puig/i-have-written-every-one-of-my-novels-to-convince-somebody-of/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/manuel-puig-9471_books_i-have-written-every-one-of-my-novels-to_1548302.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/manuel-puig-9471_books_i-have-written-every-one-of-my-novels-to_1548302.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/manuel-puig-9471_books_i-have-written-every-one-of-my-novels-to_1548302.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I have written every one of my novels to convince somebody of something.” — Manuel Puig",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 7,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Writing is my number one passion. I've written two novels. I've written a screenplay. I also write short stories and poetry.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Evangeline Lilly"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/writing-is-my-number-one-passion-i-ve-written-two-novels-i-ve-written/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/evangeline-lilly-1168_books_writing-is-my-number-one-passion-i-ve-wr_1978876.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/evangeline-lilly-1168_books_writing-is-my-number-one-passion-i-ve-wr_1978876.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/195/evangeline-lilly-1168_books_writing-is-my-number-one-passion-i-ve-wr_1978876.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Writing is my number one passion. I've written two novels. I've written a screenplay. I also write short…” — Evangeline Lilly",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 8,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Well-written novels make you more empathetic towards other people. You can identify with someone who isn't you. You can change your identity. A 14-year-old boy can become Anna Karenina. It is a miracle.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Olga Tokarczuk"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-tokarczuk/well-written-novels-make-you-more-empathetic-towards-other-people-you/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/olga-tokarczuk-6444_books_well-written-novels-make-you-more-empath_2173618.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/olga-tokarczuk-6444_books_well-written-novels-make-you-more-empath_2173618.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7e/olga-tokarczuk-6444_books_well-written-novels-make-you-more-empath_2173618.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Well-written novels make you more empathetic towards other people. You can identify with someone who isn't…” — Olga Tokarczuk",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 9,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I didn't get anything published until I was thirty-three, and yet I'd written five novels and six or seven plays. The plays, I should point out, were dreadful.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Edmund White"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/i-didn-t-get-anything-published-until-i-was-thirty-three-and-yet-i-d/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/edmund-white-2376_anything_i-didn-t-get-anything-published-until-i_2486307.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/edmund-white-2376_anything_i-didn-t-get-anything-published-until-i_2486307.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/edmund-white-2376_anything_i-didn-t-get-anything-published-until-i_2486307.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I didn't get anything published until I was thirty-three, and yet I'd written five novels and six or seven…” — Edmund White",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 10,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "I'm a natural clown, I suppose, in writing, and one has to accept that; I can't do anything about it. I have written one or two novels which are not specifically funny. I wrote a study of Shakespeare which was not intended to be funny, but some people regard it as such.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Anthony Burgess"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/i-m-a-natural-clown-i-suppose-in-writing-and-one-has-to-accept-that-i/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/anthony-burgess-1167_accept_i-m-a-natural-clown-i-suppose-in-writing_449149.jpg",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/anthony-burgess-1167_accept_i-m-a-natural-clown-i-suppose-in-writing_449149.jpg",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/071/anthony-burgess-1167_accept_i-m-a-natural-clown-i-suppose-in-writing_449149.jpg",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“I'm a natural clown, I suppose, in writing, and one has to accept that; I can't do anything about it. I have…” — Anthony Burgess",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 11,
                    "item": {
                        "@type": "Quotation",
                        "text": "Poorly written novels--no matter how pious and edifying the behavior of the characters--are not good in themselves and are therefore not really edifying.",
                        "creator": {
                            "@type": "Person",
                            "name": "Flannery O'Connor"
                        },
                        "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/poorly-written-novels-no-matter-how-pious-and-edifying-the-behavior/",
                        "image": {
                            "@type": "ImageObject",
                            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/flannery-o-connor-639_behavior_poorly-written-novels-no-matter-how-piou_1915048.png",
                            "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/flannery-o-connor-639_behavior_poorly-written-novels-no-matter-how-piou_1915048.png",
                            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/42c/flannery-o-connor-639_behavior_poorly-written-novels-no-matter-how-piou_1915048.png",
                            "width": 1080,
                            "height": 1080,
                            "caption": "“Poorly written novels--no matter how pious and edifying the behavior of the characters--are not good in…” — Flannery O'Connor",
                            "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                            "creator": {
                                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "CollectionPage",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-novels/#webpage",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-novels/",
            "name": "Written Novels Quotes",
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "mainEntity": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-novels/#itemlist"
            },
            "primaryImageOfPage": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/donna-tartt-391_books_i-ve-written-only-two-novels-but-they-re_2258240.jpg"
            },
            "description": "Browse 11 Written Novels quotes by 10 authors. Discover the best Written Novels sayings and thoughts.",
            "breadcrumb": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-novels/#breadcrumb"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-novels/#breadcrumb",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Topics",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/categories/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Written Novels Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-novels/"
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
