--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Novels are my favorite to write and read…" description: "\"Novels are my favorite to write and read. I do like writing personal essays, too. I'm not really a short story writer, nor do I tend to gravitate to th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/dani-shapiro-2273_books_novels-are-my-favorite-to-write-and-read_314425.png" --- # Novels are my favorite to write and read. I do like… ![“Novels are my favorite to write and read. I do like writing personal essays, too. I'm not really a short story writer, nor do I tend to gravitate to them as a reader.” quote by Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/dani-shapiro-2273_books_novels-are-my-favorite-to-write-and-read_314425.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/dani-shapiro-2273_books_novels-are-my-favorite-to-write-and-read_314425.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b76/dani-shapiro-2273_books_novels-are-my-favorite-to-write-and-read_314425.png) > “Novels are my favorite to write and read. I do like writing personal essays, too. I'm not really a short story writer, nor do I tend to gravitate to them as a reader.” [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker prefers novels over short stories, enjoys personal essays, and distinguishes their writing and reading habits. **In simple terms:** Prefers novels, also writes essays, not short stories. Key Takeaway Focus on longer forms for depth. Themes literature writing genre preference Mood reflective thoughtful Type personal creative When to use this quote - book clubs - writing workshops - literary criticism Key Concepts narrative structure personal voice creative process Questions to Reflect On - Why do you gravitate toward longer narratives? - How could short stories complement your practice? A Different Perspective May overlook benefits of short form. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Another benefit is that the more I blog, the more I maintain and develop a first-person voice, which translates into a much greater ease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-christensen/another-benefit-is-that-the-more-i-blog-the-more-i-maintain-and/) [Kate Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-christensen/) > [I enjoy writing personal essays in the way of Charles Lamb because it goes back to the school days when I was good in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruskin-bond/i-enjoy-writing-personal-essays-in-the-way-of-charles-lamb-because-it/) [Ruskin Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruskin-bond/) > [Romance novels are my favorite books to read. I write young adult romances, and am so happy to be promoting this wonderful genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/romance-novels-are-my-favorite-books-to-read-i-write-young-adult/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [When it comes to the personal essays I write, I just convince myself that no one will ever read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/when-it-comes-to-the-personal-essays-i-write-i-just-convince-myself/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I'm more interested in writing about the personal stories of people. Sometimes I don't agree with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patterson-hood/i-m-more-interested-in-writing-about-the-personal-stories-of-people/) [Patterson Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patterson-hood/) > [When you're writing personal stories, you have to be totally uncompromising - to the extent that you can be - about yourself. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/when-you-re-writing-personal-stories-you-have-to-be-totally/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [From Finding the Center to Reading and Writing: A Personal Account, the story remains the same: in a journey unique to myself, I left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caryl-phillips/from-finding-the-center-to-reading-and-writing-a-personal-account-the/) [Caryl Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caryl-phillips/) > [In many ways, I've been writing personal stories all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/in-many-ways-i-ve-been-writing-personal-stories-all-my-life/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [A writer is obviously at his most natural and relaxed when he writes in the first person. Writing is a personal transaction between two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/a-writer-is-obviously-at-his-most-natural-and-relaxed-when-he-writes/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [writing is the most personal form of prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/writing-is-the-most-personal-form-of-prayer/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > ['Dreamsongs' allows me to show the scope of my writing - with personal commentary that puts the works in context and includes some autobiographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/dreamsongs-allows-me-to-show-the-scope-of-my-writing-with-personal/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [“All writers are demonic dreamers. Writing is an act of sharing experiences and offering of an individualistic perspective of our private attitudes pertaining to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/all-writers-are-demonic-dreamers-writing-is-an-act-of-sharing/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [I hate writing about personal stuff. I don't have a Facebook page. I don't use my Twitter account. I am familiar with both, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-hate-writing-about-personal-stuff-i-don-t-have-a-facebook-page-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Writing from a personal experience can bring about this emotion and power of emotion that can be instantly connected to the instrument, my voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-porter/writing-from-a-personal-experience-can-bring-about-this-emotion-and/) [Gregory Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-porter/) > [I personally believe that the writing of personal and family histories will do more to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/i-personally-believe-that-the-writing-of-personal-and-family/) [Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/) ## More by Dani Shapiro > [“The writer’s life requires courage, patience, empathy, openness. It requires the ability to be alone with oneself. Gentle with oneself. To be disciplined, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/the-writer-s-life-requires-courage-patience-empathy-openness-it/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I never troll for material. It simply presents itself, and is always unmistakable. This is why I want to roll my eyes when people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-never-troll-for-material-it-simply-presents-itself-and-is-always/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I had never really felt settled in Brooklyn. I think it had to do with growing up in New Jersey and being someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-had-never-really-felt-settled-in-brooklyn-i-think-it-had-to-do-with/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [When I near the end of a book, it feels as if the entire universe meets me more than halfway and supports me. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/when-i-near-the-end-of-a-book-it-feels-as-if-the-entire-universe/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [Everything you need to know about life can be learned from a genuine and ongoing attempt to write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/everything-you-need-to-know-about-life-can-be-learned-from-a-genuine/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [We don't choose what's going to wake us up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/we-don-t-choose-what-s-going-to-wake-us-up/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [Everything changes. The more I try to hold on to the moment, the more it slips through my fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/everything-changes-the-more-i-try-to-hold-on-to-the-moment-the-more/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [There is no end to the promotion. There is no end to the possibilities. You can continue to promote a book for years, literally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/there-is-no-end-to-the-promotion-there-is-no-end-to-the-possibilities/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [We can't protect ourselves from pain and heartache.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/we-can-t-protect-ourselves-from-pain-and-heartache/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [A writer with her work needs to be like a dog with a bone all the time. She needs to know where she's hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/a-writer-with-her-work-needs-to-be-like-a-dog-with-a-bone-all-the/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [“Oh, child! Somewhere inside you, your future has already unfurled like one of those coiled-up party streamers, once shiny, shaken loose, floating gracefully for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/oh-child-somewhere-inside-you-your-future-has-already-unfurled-like/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I never feel so alive as when I'm writing and the work is going well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-never-feel-so-alive-as-when-i-m-writing-and-the-work-is-going-well/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I do strongly identify with being Jewish. I was raised Orthodox and had a childhood complicated by the fact that my father was deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-do-strongly-identify-with-being-jewish-i-was-raised-orthodox-and/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [The fact is that most husbands, regardless of religion - it's an old-fashioned gender divide where the husband wants to stay home and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/the-fact-is-that-most-husbands-regardless-of-religion-it-s-an-old/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [I do whatever is necessary in order to maintain the equanimity we all need to withstand the disappointment and rejection that are the lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-do-whatever-is-necessary-in-order-to-maintain-the-equanimity-we-all/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) [Explore all 175 Dani Shapiro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [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/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Novels are my favorite to write and read. I do like writing personal essays, too. 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