Anguish Quote by Anonymous
“I believe that the main thing in beginning a novel is to feel, not that you can write it, but that it exists on the far side of a gulf, which words can't cross: that it's to be pulled through only in a breathless anguish.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Writing craft, 2010
He suggests that beginning a novel requires feeling the story’s existence beyond language, a painful, breathless pull.
In simple terms: Starting a novel feels like an elusive, painful pull.
Key Takeaway
Trust the feeling beyond words.
Themes
writing
creativity
emotion
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
creative
philosophical
When to use this quote
- drafting
- writer’s block
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
artistic inspiration
creative struggle
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you capture feeling in words?
- Is pain essential to creation?
A Different Perspective
May idealize struggle over craft.
