--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can see myself wanting to write a…" description: "\"I can see myself wanting to write a historical novel - you don't need to worry about references to reality TV or pop music, you can just get on with th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/irvine-welsh-843_basics_i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-hist_2727764.png" --- # I can see myself wanting to write a historical novel - you… ![“I can see myself wanting to write a historical novel - you don't need to worry about references to reality TV or pop music, you can just get on with the basics of story and character.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/irvine-welsh-843_basics_i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-hist_2727764.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/irvine-welsh-843_basics_i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-hist_2727764.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/irvine-welsh-843_basics_i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-hist_2727764.png) > “I can see myself wanting to write a historical novel - you don't need to worry about references to reality TV or pop music, you can just get on with the basics of story and character.” [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing a historical novel can focus on core storytelling without worrying about modern references. **In simple terms:** Historical fiction can ignore contemporary pop culture. Key Takeaway Prioritize story and character over trendy details. Themes writing historical fiction creativity Mood thoughtful creative Type advisory inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - research - creative workshops Key Concepts story structure character development Questions to Reflect On - How can avoiding modern references strengthen period authenticity? - What balance between accuracy and narrative is ideal? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-novels/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Pop music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-music/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-tv/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If you write a book set in the past about something that happened east of the Mississippi, it's a 'historical novel.' If you write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/if-you-write-a-book-set-in-the-past-about-something-that-happened/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [If someone had told me in high school that one day I'd write an historical novel, I would have rolled my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/if-someone-had-told-me-in-high-school-that-one-day-i-d-write-an/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [I don't write fantasy; I write historical novels about an imaginary place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-don-t-write-fantasy-i-write-historical-novels-about-an-imaginary/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [I've been told by people who write historical novels that you just sort of write the emotional truth first, the story at the core,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-ve-been-told-by-people-who-write-historical-novels-that-you-just/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [Historical novels are about costumery. I think that's the magic and mystery of fiction. I don't want to write historical fiction but I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/historical-novels-are-about-costumery-i-think-that-s-the-magic-and/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [I have rarely read a more wonderful book than To Win Her Favor by Tamera Alexander. Rich with historical detail and fully developed characters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-coble/i-have-rarely-read-a-more-wonderful-book-than-to-win-her-favor-by/) [Colleen Coble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-coble/) > [The historical novel gives us perspective on our modern lives and helps us connect with the story, which we are continuing ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-pope-osborne/the-historical-novel-gives-us-perspective-on-our-modern-lives-and/) [Mary Pope Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-pope-osborne/) > [When you read a history or biography you are entitled to imagine that it is as accurate as the authors can make it. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-meyer/when-you-read-a-history-or-biography-you-are-entitled-to-imagine-that/) [Nicholas Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-meyer/) > [I'm not entirely sure what a historical novel absolutely has to be, but you don't want a reader who loves a very traditional historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-dutton/i-m-not-entirely-sure-what-a-historical-novel-absolutely-has-to-be/) [Danielle Dutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-dutton/) > [My first book was a historical novel. I started writing in 1974. In those days, historical novels meant ladies with swelling bosoms on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/my-first-book-was-a-historical-novel-i-started-writing-in-1974-in/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [“The great British philosopher and historian R. G. Collingwood maintained in The Idea of History that to write well about a historical figure, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-hazleton/the-great-british-philosopher-and-historian-r-g-collingwood/) [Lesley Hazleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-hazleton/) > [The first book I sat down to write was an historical romance. It was really bad and thankfully no one ever saw it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/the-first-book-i-sat-down-to-write-was-an-historical-romance-it-was/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [It is a great pity that every human being does not, at an early stage of his life, have to write a historical work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-west/it-is-a-great-pity-that-every-human-being-does-not-at-an-early-stage/) [Rebecca West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-west/) > [I didn't need to write historical epics, no, or science fiction, though I read a lot of science fiction as a kid and rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-didn-t-need-to-write-historical-epics-no-or-science-fiction-though/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I have no desire to write historical anything or futuristic anything - I want to find a way to get at the essence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/i-have-no-desire-to-write-historical-anything-or-futuristic-anything/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) ## More by Irvine Welsh > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Without this kickstart to my day, I'd be lost. A day without a morning run is a day you fumble through, rather than one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/without-this-kickstart-to-my-day-i-d-be-lost-a-day-without-a-morning/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If it's something that I feel uncomfortable with, that's a reason for me to write it. I kind of like to make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-it-s-something-that-i-feel-uncomfortable-with-that-s-a-reason-for/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If I stop working and publishing, and TV, and film and all that, I would be dead within a couple of weeks. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-i-stop-working-and-publishing-and-tv-and-film-and-all-that-i-would/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I can see why the Russians love Robert Burns, I think that Russians and Koreans have a very similar outlook to Scots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-why-the-russians-love-robert-burns-i-think-that-russians/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [If you continue to transfer the wealth of the population of the planet to a very small amount of people, it becomes untenable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-you-continue-to-transfer-the-wealth-of-the-population-of-the/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [Most middle-class people I know don't really live like me. Middle-class people worry a lot about money. They worry a lot about job security,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/most-middle-class-people-i-know-don-t-really-live-like-me-middle/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [As soon as you've written it, you're thinking about how it can move into different mediums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/as-soon-as-you-ve-written-it-you-re-thinking-about-how-it-can-move/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [“Begbie doesnae even notice; he's in his element, particularly good at funerals in the way a lot ay psychopaths tend tae be. Ah suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/begbie-doesnae-even-notice-he-s-in-his-element-particularly-good-at/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [I'm more of a warrior than you'll ever be. I believe in the class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-m-more-of-a-warrior-than-you-ll-ever-be-i-believe-in-the-class-war/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) [Explore all 348 Irvine Welsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) ## More Basics quotes > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [The only way you can stay on top is to remember to touch bottom and get back to basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/the-only-way-you-can-stay-on-top-is-to-remember-to-touch-bottom-and/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [To succeed, you will soon learn, as I did, the importance of a solid foundation in the basics of education - literacy, both verbal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/to-succeed-you-will-soon-learn-as-i-did-the-importance-of-a-solid/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [I see film as a real opportunity to examine the human condition. No matter where the technology goes in the future, the basics don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-schultz/i-see-film-as-a-real-opportunity-to-examine-the-human-condition-no/) [Michael Schultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-schultz/) > [Sometimes we think that the more expensive brands will be more effective. Sometimes if you stick to the basics, that's what really matters. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pia-wurtzbach/sometimes-we-think-that-the-more-expensive-brands-will-be-more/) [Pia Wurtzbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pia-wurtzbach/) > [As hundreds of millions of Chinese have improved their standard of living, this has put enormous pressure on natural resources, raw materials, and food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lubetzky/as-hundreds-of-millions-of-chinese-have-improved-their-standard-of/) [Daniel Lubetzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lubetzky/) > [Move quickly. Sound, calm mind. Be light in body. Have a clever mind. Master the basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gogen-yamaguchi/move-quickly-sound-calm-mind-be-light-in-body-have-a-clever-mind/) Gogen Yamaguchi > [After almost exactly three hours, we rolled into a small hole of a town that had one traffic light and a resturant simply marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/after-almost-exactly-three-hours-we-rolled-into-a-small-hole-of-a/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [When you're a dancer, you start with the basics. You don't all of a sudden do a grand jete and pirouette. You start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/when-you-re-a-dancer-you-start-with-the-basics-you-don-t-all-of-a/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [There are huge misconceptions about people on benefits. They are labelled scroungers or cheats. The reality is that many who need that level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/there-are-huge-misconceptions-about-people-on-benefits-they-are/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [It's just lovely to be involved in a movie that does go back to the basics - characters and great writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-owen/it-s-just-lovely-to-be-involved-in-a-movie-that-does-go-back-to-the/) [Clive Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-owen/) > [“When life gets confusing, go back to the basics. The rest is noise!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-shelasky/when-life-gets-confusing-go-back-to-the-basics-the-rest-is-noise/) [Alyssa Shelasky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-shelasky/) > [We have to stick to basics. Sometimes, you expect that miracles will happen, but it does not work out that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahid-afridi/we-have-to-stick-to-basics-sometimes-you-expect-that-miracles-will/) [Shahid Afridi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahid-afridi/) > [I don't think that you can write music if you don't know how to play an instrument. You have to know the basics, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-write-music-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-play/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) [Browse all 345 Basics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can see myself wanting to write a historical novel - you don't need to worry about references to reality TV or pop music, you can just get on with the basics of story and character.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Irvine Welsh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-historical-novel-you-don-t-need/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-historical-novel-you-don-t-need/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/irvine-welsh-843_basics_i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-hist_2727764.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/irvine-welsh-843_basics_i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-hist_2727764.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/irvine-welsh-843_basics_i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-hist_2727764.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can see myself wanting to write a historical novel - you don't need to worry about references to reality…” — Irvine Welsh", "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": "Irvine Welsh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can see myself wanting to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-historical-novel-you-don-t-need/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-myself-wanting-to-write-a-historical-novel-you-don-t-need/#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 } } ] } ```