--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was once doing a question and answer…" description: "\"I was once doing a question and answer period with the novelist Jane Smiley in a bookstore and someone asked us what our processes were and Jane said h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/edward-hirsch-1614_answers_i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-p_1346043.jpg" --- # I was once doing a question and answer period with the… ![“I was once doing a question and answer period with the novelist Jane Smiley in a bookstore and someone asked us what our processes were and Jane said hers and then I said mine and Jane said, "Well, if I had a student like that I'd force him never to write like that again because you could never…” quote by Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/edward-hirsch-1614_answers_i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-p_1346043.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/edward-hirsch-1614_answers_i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-p_1346043.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/edward-hirsch-1614_answers_i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-p_1346043.jpg) > “I was once doing a question and answer period with the novelist Jane Smiley in a bookstore and someone asked us what our processes were and Jane said hers and then I said mine and Jane said, "Well, if I had a student like that I'd force him never to write like that again because you could never write a novel in the way that you write poetry."” [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jane Smiley believes poetry and novel writing require distinct skills; forcing a poet to write prose may hinder authenticity. **In simple terms:** Poetry and novels need different techniques. Key Takeaway Respect each genre’s craft. Themes literature creativity genre distinction Mood analytical thoughtful Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - creative writing workshops - literary criticism - author mentorship Key Concepts artistic integrity writing process Questions to Reflect On - Can cross‑genre experimentation enrich storytelling? - When is it appropriate to blend poetic and narrative styles? A Different Perspective Some writers blend forms successfully, so rigid separation may limit innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Bookstores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bookstores/) [Force](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/force/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jane/) [Like Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-write-231812/) [Mines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mines/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelist/) [Novelist Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelist-jane-4561738/) [Novelists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelists/) [Periods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/periods/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Questions and answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questions-and-answers/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Jane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-jane-884148/) [Said Student](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-student-938870/) [Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiley/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I lose my temper, but it's all over in a minute," said the student. 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It would be themselves they gave birth to, only better. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-coplin/they-were-blessed-said-jane-they-were-going-to-give-birth-to/) [Amanda Coplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-coplin/) > [“Hey, uh, you know. Um. If you’re alive, uh, call me." I looked at the screen and said, "It's Jane." I closed the phone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hunter/hey-uh-you-know-um-if-you-re-alive-uh-call-me-i-looked-at-the-screen/) [Faith Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hunter/) > [“you know,' said Jane, 'for a while there I thought we would be okay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-baker/you-know-said-jane-for-a-while-there-i-thought-we-would-be-okay/) [Adam Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-baker/) > [“People said, "Jane, forget about this nonsense with Africa. Dream about things you can achieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/people-said-jane-forget-about-this-nonsense-with-africa-dream-about/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“I think you just complimented me," said Jane. "You should take better care next time." The music had started, the couples had begun a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/i-think-you-just-complimented-me-said-jane-you-should-take-better/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [“What are you doing?” Ya!” said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly. 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The art of true conversation consisted in the play of minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ved-mehta/surely-only-boring-people-went-in-for-conversations-consisting-of/) [Ved Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ved-mehta/) > [“Wise are those who keep asking questions when everyone around them think they know the answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-bartell/wise-are-those-who-keep-asking-questions-when-everyone-around-them/) [J. Bartell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-bartell/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) ## More by Edward Hirsch > [And my experience is the best titles, for me, emerge in the process of writing. They don't usually come at the very beginning and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/and-my-experience-is-the-best-titles-for-me-emerge-in-the-process-of/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“I did not know the work of mourning Is like carrying a bag of cement Up a mountain at night The mountaintop is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-did-not-know-the-work-of-mourning-is-like-carrying-a-bag-of-cement/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“Fall" Fall, falling, fallen. That’s the way the season Changes its tense in the long-haired maples That dot the road; the veiny hand-shaped leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/fall-fall-falling-fallen-that-s-the-way-the-season-changes-its-tense/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I find great consolation in having a lot of poetry books around. I believe that writing poetry and reading it are deeply intertwined. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-find-great-consolation-in-having-a-lot-of-poetry-books-around-i/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I had feelings that I didn't know what to do with, and I felt better when I started writing them. I thought of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-had-feelings-that-i-didn-t-know-what-to-do-with-and-i-felt-better/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [I think in terms of educating a group of readers, MFA programs are very good. I just think the model of MFA programs in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-think-in-terms-of-educating-a-group-of-readers-mfa-programs-are/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“Jonson wrote a poem and called his son His best piece of poetrie A lovely line a little loathsome I loved that poem once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/jonson-wrote-a-poem-and-called-his-son-his-best-piece-of-poetrie-a/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [After my grandfather died I went down to the basement of my family house where my family kept books, anthologies and things and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/after-my-grandfather-died-i-went-down-to-the-basement-of-my-family/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [It does demand a certain space in order to read it and I think that space is somewhat threatened by the lack of attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/it-does-demand-a-certain-space-in-order-to-read-it-and-i-think-that/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [...I put down these memorandums of my affections in honor of tenderness, in honor of all of those who have been conscripted into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-put-down-these-memorandums-of-my-affections-in-honor-of-tenderness/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Poetry is a vocation. It is not a career but a calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/poetry-is-a-vocation-it-is-not-a-career-but-a-calling/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [You're shadowed by your own dream, especially as you get older, of trying to create something that will last in poetry. And so, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/you-re-shadowed-by-your-own-dream-especially-as-you-get-older-of/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [The attention deficit disorder of the culture is very distressing in America now and I think it puts a lot of things at risk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/the-attention-deficit-disorder-of-the-culture-is-very-distressing-in/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Now, as I've gotten older I've been able to write more quickly. Sometimes I get in the space of something and I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/now-as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-been-able-to-write-more-quickly/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [Poetry takes courage because you have to face things and you try to articulate how you feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/poetry-takes-courage-because-you-have-to-face-things-and-you-try-to/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) [Explore all 222 Edward Hirsch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. 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The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was once doing a question and answer period with the novelist Jane Smiley in a bookstore and someone asked us what our processes were and Jane said hers and then I said mine and Jane said, \"Well, if I had a student like that I'd force him never to write like that again because you could never write a novel in the way that you write poetry.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Hirsch" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-period-with-the-novelist-jane/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Answers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-period-with-the-novelist-jane/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/edward-hirsch-1614_answers_i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-p_1346043.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/edward-hirsch-1614_answers_i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-p_1346043.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/414/edward-hirsch-1614_answers_i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-p_1346043.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was once doing a question and answer period with the novelist Jane Smiley in a bookstore and someone asked…” — Edward Hirsch", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "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": "Edward Hirsch", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was once doing a question...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-period-with-the-novelist-jane/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/i-was-once-doing-a-question-and-answer-period-with-the-novelist-jane/#breadcrumb" }, { "@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 } } ] } ```