--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Redwing had read somewhere that one of…" description: "\"“Redwing had read somewhere that one of his favourite writers, Ernest Hemingway, had been asked what was the best training for a novelist. He had said ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/gregory-benford-6934_books_redwing-had-read-somewhere-that-one-of-h_489340.jpg" --- # Redwing had read somewhere that one of his favourite… ![“Redwing had read somewhere that one of his favourite writers, Ernest Hemingway, had been asked what was the best training for a novelist. He had said “an unhappy childhood.” Redwing had enjoyed a fine time growing up, but he wondered if this whole expedition was unfolding more like a novel, and…” quote by Gregory Benford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/gregory-benford-6934_books_redwing-had-read-somewhere-that-one-of-h_489340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/gregory-benford-6934_books_redwing-had-read-somewhere-that-one-of-h_489340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b1/gregory-benford-6934_books_redwing-had-read-somewhere-that-one-of-h_489340.jpg) > ““Redwing had read somewhere that one of his favourite writers, Ernest Hemingway, had been asked what was the best training for a novelist. He had said “an unhappy childhood.” Redwing had enjoyed a fine time growing up, but he wondered if this whole expedition was unfolding more like a novel, and would be blamed on one person, one character, the guy in charge: him. Maybe you got a happy childhood and then an unhappy adulthood, and that’s how novels worked.”” [Gregory Benford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-benford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer wonders if a troubled childhood fuels literary creativity, questioning the link between personal pain and artistic output. **In simple terms:** Pain may inspire art; uncertain link. Key Takeaway Explore your own experiences for creative insight. Themes creativity growth self‑reflection Mood contemplative curious Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - personal journaling - therapy sessions Key Concepts Childhood trauma artistic inspiration novel writing Questions to Reflect On - Can you create without past pain? - What other sources fuel your creativity? A Different Perspective Not all great works stem from trauma; other factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childhood/) [Ernest-hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ernest-hemingway-2/) [Happy childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-childhood/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Unhappy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy/) [Unhappy childhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unhappy-childhood/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Teaching high school was my real training as a novelist: it got me out of my head, and (at least a little) out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-greenwell/teaching-high-school-was-my-real-training-as-a-novelist-it-got-me-out/) [Garth Greenwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-greenwell/) > [ “\[About Ernest Hemingway\] He’s a peach of a fellow and absolutely first-rate.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/about-ernest-hemingway-he-s-a-peach-of-a-fellow-and-absolutely-first/) [F. 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