--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I haven't written a novel or something…" description: "\"I haven't written a novel or something that long, because I really am improvising all along and the story is growing new limbs to do what it needs to d..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/george-saunders-317_america_i-haven-t-written-a-novel-or-something-t_2231086.jpg" --- # I haven't written a novel or something that long, because… ![“I haven't written a novel or something that long, because I really am improvising all along and the story is growing new limbs to do what it needs to do. So there's very little planning. There's a little planning where I say, "Well, it looks like I'm going in this direction, ok, good." But there's…” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/george-saunders-317_america_i-haven-t-written-a-novel-or-something-t_2231086.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/george-saunders-317_america_i-haven-t-written-a-novel-or-something-t_2231086.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/george-saunders-317_america_i-haven-t-written-a-novel-or-something-t_2231086.jpg) > “I haven't written a novel or something that long, because I really am improvising all along and the story is growing new limbs to do what it needs to do. So there's very little planning. There's a little planning where I say, "Well, it looks like I'm going in this direction, ok, good." But there's very little forethought or intellectual justification: "Oh, look, I'm putting in a theme park because that represents dystopian America!"” [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrative evolves organically with minimal planning, allowing spontaneous growth rather than rigid thematic design. **In simple terms:** Stories can develop naturally without strict outlines. Key Takeaway Embrace improvisation in creative work. Themes creativity spontaneity storytelling flexibility Mood reflective creative practical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing a novel - screenwriting - creative workshops - collaborative projects Key Concepts narrative theory improvisation organic development Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance spontaneity with coherence? - When is planning essential? A Different Perspective Lack of structure may lead to incoherence or missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Dystopian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dystopian/) [Forethought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forethought/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Improvising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvising/) [Improvising Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improvising-story-5019424/) [Intellectual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intellectual/) [Justification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justification/) [Limbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limbs/) [Little Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-planning-2863253/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parks/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Planning Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning-little-4708269/) [Represents Dystopian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/represents-dystopian-5019425/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-growing-2100370/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Theme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme/) [Theme park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme-park/) [Theme parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theme-parks/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes you have to stop thinking and planning every little step, and just go in the direction your heart takes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-stop-thinking-and-planning-every-little-step/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tell the story that's been growing in your heart, the characters you can't keep out of your head, the tale story that speaks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-weiner/tell-the-story-that-s-been-growing-in-your-heart-the-characters-you/) [Jennifer Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-weiner/) > [I think Laurie's Keller story 'We are growing', resonates because when you have that amount of independence, you're starting to ask yourself questions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-willems/i-think-laurie-s-keller-story-we-are-growing-resonates-because-when/) [Mo Willems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-willems/) > [My first kiss was with a girlfriend. And it was at a party. I think I was hopeful that that would happen, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-blackburn/my-first-kiss-was-with-a-girlfriend-and-it-was-at-a-party-i-think-i/) [Tyler Blackburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-blackburn/) > [Raw fish suppers admittedly require a little planning, not least in the acquisition of the main ingredient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/raw-fish-suppers-admittedly-require-a-little-planning-not-least-in/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [Women complain about not having enough 'me time.' All it requires is a little planning. Once you plan, organise, and prioritise your life, things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namrata-shirodkar/women-complain-about-not-having-enough-me-time-all-it-requires-is-a/) [Namrata Shirodkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namrata-shirodkar/) > [If I couldn't be a fiction writer, I would be a roller coaster designer for theme parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-wells/if-i-couldn-t-be-a-fiction-writer-i-would-be-a-roller-coaster/) [Mike Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-wells/) > [Disney's something to be a little alarmed about. It's not just a little theme park anymore. It's now an ethic and outlook and strategy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-hiaasen/disney-s-something-to-be-a-little-alarmed-about-it-s-not-just-a/) [Carl Hiaasen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-hiaasen/) > [“2. Core purpose is an organization’s most fundamental reason for being. It should not be confused with the company’s current product lines or customer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/2-core-purpose-is-an-organization-s-most-fundamental-reason-for-being/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [Summer is the sweet spot of the movie-going season -- and it's also peak season for Six Flags theme parks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shapiro/summer-is-the-sweet-spot-of-the-movie-going-season-and-it-s-also-peak/) [Mark Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shapiro/) > [I like to try to capture places that a lot of people went to or have a deep emotional connection to. Malls, abandoned speedways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seph-lawless/i-like-to-try-to-capture-places-that-a-lot-of-people-went-to-or-have/) [Seph Lawless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seph-lawless/) > [We are starting to see more and more Roblox games that offer creation. An example would be Theme Park Tycoon, which lets anyone construct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-baszucki/we-are-starting-to-see-more-and-more-roblox-games-that-offer-creation/) [David Baszucki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-baszucki/) > [It's great to go to theme parks but going to an arboretum with small children is incredible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-savoretti/it-s-great-to-go-to-theme-parks-but-going-to-an-arboretum-with-small/) [Jack Savoretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-savoretti/) > [My wife loves Europe, but to me it's a bad day at a theme park.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/my-wife-loves-europe-but-to-me-it-s-a-bad-day-at-a-theme-park/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“I avoided any theme parks or museums where the employees dressed true to period. Complete nightmare. I also spent a lot of time trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myra-mcentire/i-avoided-any-theme-parks-or-museums-where-the-employees-dressed-true/) [Myra McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myra-mcentire/) ## More by George Saunders > [Success is like a mountain in front of you that keeps growing. If you're not careful, it will take up your whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/success-is-like-a-mountain-in-front-of-you-that-keeps-growing-if-you/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“Wow wow wow is all I can say! Remember how I always buy lunchtime Scratch-Off ticket? Have I said? Maybe did not say? Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/wow-wow-wow-is-all-i-can-say-remember-how-i-always-buy-lunchtime/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“None of it was real; nothing was real. Everything was real; inconceivably real, infinitely dear. These and all things started as nothing, latent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/none-of-it-was-real-nothing-was-real-everything-was-real/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“We must see God not as a Him (some linear rewarding fellow) but an IT, a great beast beyond our understanding, who wants something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-must-see-god-not-as-a-him-some-linear-rewarding-fellow-but-an-it-a/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [America, to me, should be shouting all the time, a bunch of shouting voices, most of them wrong, some of them nuts, but please,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/america-to-me-should-be-shouting-all-the-time-a-bunch-of-shouting/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Whatever your supposed politics are - left, right - if you put it in a human connection, most people will rise to the occasion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whatever-your-supposed-politics-are-left-right-if-you-put-it-in-a/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“A Clinton staffer tells me his theory. Think about Frank Sinatra, he says: born to sing. Think about Willie Mays: born to play ball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/a-clinton-staffer-tells-me-his-theory-think-about-frank-sinatra-he/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-try-we-fail-we-posture-we-aspire-we-pontificate-and-then-we-age/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [What America is, to me, is a guy doesn't want to buy, you let him not buy, you respect his not buying. A guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-america-is-to-me-is-a-guy-doesn-t-want-to-buy-you-let-him-not/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [What good the prophet in the wilderness may do is incremental and personal. It's good for us to hear someone speak the irrational truth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/what-good-the-prophet-in-the-wilderness-may-do-is-incremental-and/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [We're in the transition between birth and death. But the one that people often know about is the transition between the moment of death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/we-re-in-the-transition-between-birth-and-death-but-the-one-that/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [You don't want to be that parent - the one who dresses his kid in a cloth sack when all the other kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-don-t-want-to-be-that-parent-the-one-who-dresses-his-kid-in-a/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) [Explore all 690 George Saunders quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [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/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I haven't written a novel or something that long, because I really am improvising all along and the story is growing new limbs to do what it needs to do. So there's very little planning. 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