--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I write a novel, I have what I think…" description: "\"When I write a novel, I have what I think of as an icon that helps get me into the world of the book.\" — Anna Quindlen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/anna-quindlen-467_book_when-i-write-a-novel-i-have-what-i-think_3002562.png" --- # When I write a novel, I have what I think of as an icon… ![“When I write a novel, I have what I think of as an icon that helps get me into the world of the book.” quote by Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/anna-quindlen-467_book_when-i-write-a-novel-i-have-what-i-think_3002562.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/anna-quindlen-467_book_when-i-write-a-novel-i-have-what-i-think_3002562.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d48/anna-quindlen-467_book_when-i-write-a-novel-i-have-what-i-think_3002562.png) > “When I write a novel, I have what I think of as an icon that helps get me into the world of the book.” [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An author uses a mental image as a gateway to immerse herself in the story’s world. **In simple terms:** A mental picture helps the writer enter the story. Key Takeaway Create a vivid mental anchor before writing. Themes creativity imagination writing process Mood inspired focused Type practical creative When to use this quote - author brainstorming - drafting - scene setting - character development Key Concepts visualization narrative immersion Questions to Reflect On - What image would you use to enter your story? - How does visualizing the world affect your prose? A Different Perspective If the image is too vague, it may not guide the narrative effectively. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Icon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/icon/) [Icon Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/icon-helps-4774252/) [Icons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/icons/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-think-419956/) [Think Icon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-icon-2401942/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Write Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-novel/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't think I am an icon. My team works hard on my look; I just wear what they suggest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/disha-patani/i-don-t-think-i-am-an-icon-my-team-works-hard-on-my-look-i-just-wear/) [Disha Patani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/disha-patani/) > [I never think of myself as an icon. What is in other people's minds is not in my mind. I just do my thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/i-never-think-of-myself-as-an-icon-what-is-in-other-people-s-minds-is/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [I don't feel like an icon; I don't think of myself as an icon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-clark/i-don-t-feel-like-an-icon-i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-an-icon/) [Marcia Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-clark/) > [Not to rag on myself, but when people say, 'What does it feel like to be an icon?' I'm like, 'My dog does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-hanna/not-to-rag-on-myself-but-when-people-say-what-does-it-feel-like-to-be/) [Kathleen Hanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-hanna/) > [Write a novel if you must, but think of money as an unlikely accident. Get your reward out of writing it, and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-s-buck/write-a-novel-if-you-must-but-think-of-money-as-an-unlikely-accident/) [Pearl S. Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [The bicycle is a former child's toy that has now been elevated to icon status because, presumably, it can move the human form from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-yates/the-bicycle-is-a-former-child-s-toy-that-has-now-been-elevated-to/) [Brock Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-yates/) > [I didn't really know anything about Margot Fonteyn. 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I just get dressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-momsen/i-get-told-all-the-time-that-i-m-a-fashion-icon-now-but-i-don-t/) [Taylor Momsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-momsen/) > [I want to be an icon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wiz-khalifa/i-want-to-be-an-icon/) [Wiz Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wiz-khalifa/) > [My beauty icon is Angelina Jolie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-benson/my-beauty-icon-is-angelina-jolie/) [Ashley Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-benson/) ## More by Anna Quindlen > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Sometimes change came all at once, with a sound like a fire taking hold of dry wood and paper, with a roar that rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/sometimes-change-came-all-at-once-with-a-sound-like-a-fire-taking/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Loss as muse. Loss as character. 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