--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There was a hole in Washington fiction, I…" description: "\"There was a hole in Washington fiction, I felt, when I started out. Most D.C. novels were about politics or the federal city or people who lived in Geo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/george-pelecanos-3616_chase_there-was-a-hole-in-washington-fiction-i_2021674.jpg" --- # There was a hole in Washington fiction, I felt, when I… ![“There was a hole in Washington fiction, I felt, when I started out. Most D.C. novels were about politics or the federal city or people who lived in Georgetown or Chevy Chase - it was definitely a very narrow focus.” quote by George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/george-pelecanos-3616_chase_there-was-a-hole-in-washington-fiction-i_2021674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/george-pelecanos-3616_chase_there-was-a-hole-in-washington-fiction-i_2021674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c4/george-pelecanos-3616_chase_there-was-a-hole-in-washington-fiction-i_2021674.jpg) > “There was a hole in Washington fiction, I felt, when I started out. Most D.C. novels were about politics or the federal city or people who lived in Georgetown or Chevy Chase - it was definitely a very narrow focus.” [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author notes a lack of diverse storytelling in D.C. fiction, which often fixates on politics and affluent neighborhoods, limiting broader perspectives. **In simple terms:** Washington fiction is too focused on politics and elite areas. Key Takeaway Seek broader narratives about the city. Themes literature urban life diversity Mood reflective critical Type analytical observational When to use this quote - publishing - creative writing - urban studies - cultural criticism Key Concepts Narrative scope representation Questions to Reflect On - How can writers expand the view of city life? - What voices are missing in D.C. stories? A Different Perspective May overlook important social issues outside elite circles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chase/) [Chevy Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chevy-chase/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [Fiction Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-felt-3665419/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Narrow Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrow-focus-1043566/) [Novels Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels-politics-2400746/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Started Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-novels-1398952/) [Washington Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/washington-fiction-3665418/) ## Related quotes > [I was a political journalist; I came to writing novels through an interest in politics and power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/i-was-a-political-journalist-i-came-to-writing-novels-through-an/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [With fiction, I felt like I could bring to bear my full imagination, my entire heart, and so you feel very vulnerable. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/with-fiction-i-felt-like-i-could-bring-to-bear-my-full-imagination-my/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [I've started many novels, and they all ended on page seven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/i-ve-started-many-novels-and-they-all-ended-on-page-seven/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [I really do believe some people are naturally novelists and some people are short story writers. For me, when I was in middle school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-k-hobson/i-really-do-believe-some-people-are-naturally-novelists-and-some/) [M. K. Hobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-k-hobson/) > [When I first started, my novels were set in the far future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/when-i-first-started-my-novels-were-set-in-the-far-future/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [“As you narrow your focus you will broaden your opportunities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/as-you-narrow-your-focus-you-will-broaden-your-opportunities/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [I think long and hard about what it is I'm actually trying to do, and then I kind of have to narrow my focus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-think-long-and-hard-about-what-it-is-i-m-actually-trying-to-do-and/) [Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/) > [Autistic peoples' excellent attention to detail means they may make fewer mistakes, and their narrow focus may mean that they are not satisfied until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/autistic-peoples-excellent-attention-to-detail-means-they-may-make/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [“As soon as I began to study my perception, to look at my own experience, I found that there were different ways of perceiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-milner/as-soon-as-i-began-to-study-my-perception-to-look-at-my-own/) [Marion Milner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-milner/) > [I have a preference for writing that deals with domestic issues; even in visual art, I like work that focuses on very small aspects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-windley/i-have-a-preference-for-writing-that-deals-with-domestic-issues-even/) [Carol Windley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-windley/) > [“Nerds get what they want when they want it, and they go psycho if it's not immediately available. Nerds overfocus. I guess that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/nerds-get-what-they-want-when-they-want-it-and-they-go-psycho-if-it-s/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [I think I could make the case for any kind of organized religion, but I'm not an expert in those, so let me narrow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-think-i-could-make-the-case-for-any-kind-of-organized-religion-but/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [“Jesus, in Matthew's gospel, says, "How narrow is the gate that leads to life." Mistakenly, I think, we've come to believe that this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/jesus-in-matthew-s-gospel-says-how-narrow-is-the-gate-that-leads-to/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [“Narrow the focus, take the ascent one step at a time, and it's amazing what odds a man can beat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-schafer/narrow-the-focus-take-the-ascent-one-step-at-a-time-and-it-s-amazing/) [Courtney Schafer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-schafer/) > [Good things happen when you narrow your focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ries/good-things-happen-when-you-narrow-your-focus/) [Al Ries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ries/) ## More by George Pelecanos > [I want to be read. When you write a TV show like 'The Wire,' you've got three to four million readers watching your work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-want-to-be-read-when-you-write-a-tv-show-like-the-wire-you-ve-got/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I'm more apt to shed a tear than my wife about family matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-m-more-apt-to-shed-a-tear-than-my-wife-about-family-matters/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [People like to talk to me. I don't know why.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/people-like-to-talk-to-me-i-don-t-know-why/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I'm a very sentimental, emotional person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-m-a-very-sentimental-emotional-person/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [My goal is to get a real film industry started in Washington. An actual one, not where features come to town and shoot second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/my-goal-is-to-get-a-real-film-industry-started-in-washington-an/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I do have shout-outs to bands and musicians I like in my books, but the musical references can be misunderstood. Often, I have people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-do-have-shout-outs-to-bands-and-musicians-i-like-in-my-books-but/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [“And Constantine thought: So this is how it is, at the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/and-constantine-thought-so-this-is-how-it-is-at-the-end/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I never took a writing class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-never-took-a-writing-class/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I've just been very interested in the living side of Washington, rather than the federal side, since I was a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-ve-just-been-very-interested-in-the-living-side-of-washington/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I can't relax. I don't have any hobbies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-can-t-relax-i-don-t-have-any-hobbies/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I've seen firsthand how books can change people's lives. It happened to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-ve-seen-firsthand-how-books-can-change-people-s-lives-it-happened/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [I was a movie freak before I was a book lover.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-was-a-movie-freak-before-i-was-a-book-lover/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [Is there a more violent book than the Bible?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/is-there-a-more-violent-book-than-the-bible/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [My father was a Marine who fought in the Pacific in WW II. He was a very tough guy, but after the war, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/my-father-was-a-marine-who-fought-in-the-pacific-in-ww-ii-he-was-a/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [But when I do book signings and personal appearances, the audiences are mostly white. Growing up here, I expected that and understand it. Black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/but-when-i-do-book-signings-and-personal-appearances-the-audiences/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) [Explore all 126 George Pelecanos quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) ## More Chase quotes > [I think women in general like men that don't give them the thing that we want. We want a chase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-think-women-in-general-like-men-that-don-t-give-them-the-thing-that/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [“The chase was the best part, Hunting was intoxicating. And knowing I had the power to snuff out Nila Weaver’s life the moment I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepper-winters/the-chase-was-the-best-part-hunting-was-intoxicating-and-knowing-i/) [Pepper Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepper-winters/) > [I have to chase down the most scientifically efficient way to get the golf ball in the hole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/i-have-to-chase-down-the-most-scientifically-efficient-way-to-get-the/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [I dislike the gym, but I'll chase a tennis ball all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-kuchar/i-dislike-the-gym-but-i-ll-chase-a-tennis-ball-all-day/) [Matt Kuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-kuchar/) > [The first act is the easiest to plot. The second act is always the hardest to plot. Generally a good, you know, sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-j-cannell/the-first-act-is-the-easiest-to-plot-the-second-act-is-always-the/) [Stephen J. Cannell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-j-cannell/) > [Don't take anyone for granted, just because they texts you first doesn't mean they're going to chase you around and be your last choice..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-take-anyone-for-granted-just-because-they-texts-you-first-doesn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Kohli scores so freely. He's like Joe Root in that before you know it, he's on 30 off 20 balls. He is also the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-guha/kohli-scores-so-freely-he-s-like-joe-root-in-that-before-you-know-it/) [Isa Guha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-guha/) > [Chase your dreams, don't stop until you catch it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ngan-hoai-tran-vo/chase-your-dreams-don-t-stop-until-you-catch-it/) [Ngan Hoai Tran Vo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ngan-hoai-tran-vo/) > [I'd rather walk alone, than chase you around. I'd rather fall by myself, than have you bring me down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-walk-alone-than-chase-you-around-i-d-rather-fall-by-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Lola Chase, you’re going to send me to hell.  And I couldn’t care less.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-herrera/lola-chase-you-re-going-to-send-me-to-hell-and-i-couldn-t-care-less/) [Devon Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-herrera/) > [“Bees chase flowers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-l-shreve/bees-chase-flowers/) [Tracy L. Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-l-shreve/) > [There are roles that you chase sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-oldman/there-are-roles-that-you-chase-sometimes/) [Gary Oldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-oldman/) > [I like you, but I'm not gonna chase you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-like-you-but-i-m-not-gonna-chase-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [DON'T CHASE, REPLACE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-chase-replace/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And how did you know about that?” Seven looked at his watch. Chase held up a hand. “Let me guess, in two minutes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-wilder/and-how-did-you-know-about-that-seven-looked-at-his-watch-chase-held/) [Adrienne Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-wilder/) [Browse all 724 Chase quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chase/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There was a hole in Washington fiction, I felt, when I started out. 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