--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While writing a novel, I don't read…" description: "\"While writing a novel, I don't read anything new in fiction. I am too engrossed.\" — Jane Gardam" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jane-gardam-20104_am_while-writing-a-novel-i-don-t-read-anyth_2267084.png" --- # While writing a novel, I don't read anything new in… ![“While writing a novel, I don't read anything new in fiction. I am too engrossed.” quote by Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jane-gardam-20104_am_while-writing-a-novel-i-don-t-read-anyth_2267084.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jane-gardam-20104_am_while-writing-a-novel-i-don-t-read-anyth_2267084.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d9/jane-gardam-20104_am_while-writing-a-novel-i-don-t-read-anyth_2267084.png) > “While writing a novel, I don't read anything new in fiction. I am too engrossed.” [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deep immersion in a creative project can limit exposure to external influences, potentially narrowing perspective **In simple terms:** Being engrossed reduces new ideas Key Takeaway Balance immersion with external reading Themes creativity focus learning Mood contemplative thoughtful Type creative reflective When to use this quote - Novel writing - academic study - creative workshops - personal development Key Concepts Narrative immersion cognitive absorption literary influence Questions to Reflect On - How can writers stay open to new ideas while focused? - What practices broaden perspective during intensive work? A Different Perspective Over‑immersion may cause echo‑chamber thinking ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Engrossed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engrossed/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't even know how people read new fiction anymore because there's so much old fiction that exists that seems great that's unread. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmony-korine/i-don-t-even-know-how-people-read-new-fiction-anymore-because-there-s/) [Harmony Korine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmony-korine/) > [Only occasionally do I read new fiction. Most of my reading is heavily dictated by what I'm writing at the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mawer/only-occasionally-do-i-read-new-fiction-most-of-my-reading-is-heavily/) [Simon Mawer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mawer/) > [The problem with the term "The New Fiction" is that the fiction will inevitably be old. The same could have been said about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-klein/the-problem-with-the-term-the-new-fiction-is-that-the-fiction-will/) [Lee Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-klein/) > [It may be that the most avid readers of new fiction in America today are film producers, an indication of the trouble were in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow/it-may-be-that-the-most-avid-readers-of-new-fiction-in-america-today/) [E. L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow/) > [New fiction writers are a special breed in my estimation, and I never dreamed that so many people would be interested, but I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/new-fiction-writers-are-a-special-breed-in-my-estimation-and-i-never/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [I'm always reading several books at the same time, depending on how deeply engrossed in it I am, if it's fiction and if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andie-macdowell/i-m-always-reading-several-books-at-the-same-time-depending-on-how/) [Andie MacDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andie-macdowell/) > [“Don’t be too engrossed with things of the world; discover your purpose in life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/don-t-be-too-engrossed-with-things-of-the-world-discover-your-purpose/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“once she was engrossed in a good book, all other sounds faded into the background.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele-abbott/once-she-was-engrossed-in-a-good-book-all-other-sounds-faded-into-the/) [Adele Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele-abbott/) > [“I’m hanging on to your words like you’re my favorite book. 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You've become so engrossed in the movie of your life that you have forgotten that you're sitting there watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-re-bound-by-the-frame-you-ve-become-so-engrossed-in-the-movie-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [People fall in-love wen they don't get enough of 1... The more they think of them d more they miss them... The more they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-oluwasegun/people-fall-in-love-wen-they-don-t-get-enough-of-1-the-more-they/) [Victor Oluwasegun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-oluwasegun/) > [With 'Gone Girl,' I sat down, and suddenly the end credits were rolling; you just become so engrossed in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atticus-ross/with-gone-girl-i-sat-down-and-suddenly-the-end-credits-were-rolling/) [Atticus Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atticus-ross/) > [I love writing fiction and can do it anywhere - I once even missed a flight because I was so engrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-love-writing-fiction-and-can-do-it-anywhere-i-once-even-missed-a/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) ## More by Jane Gardam > [“What I don't want is to be called an octogenarian. I saw 'Octogenarian Jane Gardam' and I thought 'Blow me!' I mean, I am,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/what-i-don-t-want-is-to-be-called-an-octogenarian-i-saw-octogenarian/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [I just knew I would be a writer. It just seemed the only sensible thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/i-just-knew-i-would-be-a-writer-it-just-seemed-the-only-sensible/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [I think the most dangerous influence for a young writer is to be treated with cynicism or discouragement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/i-think-the-most-dangerous-influence-for-a-young-writer-is-to-be/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [“His colleagues at the Bar called him Filth, but not out of irony. It was because he was considered to be the source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/his-colleagues-at-the-bar-called-him-filth-but-not-out-of-irony-it/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [When I was young and the empire was beginning to disintegrate, the idea was absolutely unbelievable, particularly to children who'd been taught that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/when-i-was-young-and-the-empire-was-beginning-to-disintegrate-the/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [“Judges live with shadows behind them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/judges-live-with-shadows-behind-them/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [I hate the idea of sequels. I think you should be able to do it in one book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/i-hate-the-idea-of-sequels-i-think-you-should-be-able-to-do-it-in-one/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [Only a great genius like the Victorian novelist Elizabeth Gaskell can be mother, wife and novelist without solitude. I couldn't write until my youngest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/only-a-great-genius-like-the-victorian-novelist-elizabeth-gaskell-can/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [I longed from a tiny child to get away on my own. When I was five, I walked out along the sands from Redcar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/i-longed-from-a-tiny-child-to-get-away-on-my-own-when-i-was-five-i/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [The complexion of a novelist is seldom rosy (Paul Bailey once announced to a heavy-hearted audience of novelists at PEN that we have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/the-complexion-of-a-novelist-is-seldom-rosy-paul-bailey-once/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [Stories of all lengths and depths come from different parts of the cave. For a novel, you must lay in mental, physical and spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/stories-of-all-lengths-and-depths-come-from-different-parts-of-the/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [English country life is more like Chekhov than 'The Archers' or Thomas Hardy or even the Updike ethic with which it is sometimes compared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/english-country-life-is-more-like-chekhov-than-the-archers-or-thomas/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [Mum was a tremendous Anglo-Catholic. Very impressive, actually. She made me go to church for years - I still don't want to because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/mum-was-a-tremendous-anglo-catholic-very-impressive-actually-she-made/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [I was nearly 40 when I started. I had no fear that I wasn't going to write. I knew it was just delayed. Then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/i-was-nearly-40-when-i-started-i-had-no-fear-that-i-wasn-t-going-to/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [“So the years passed and everyone grew old and Nell’s husband died and Hilda grew to be a large, angry sort of woman very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/so-the-years-passed-and-everyone-grew-old-and-nell-s-husband-died-and/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) [Explore all 31 Jane Gardam quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) ## More Am quotes > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am on sabbatical as of right now, been too busy to think of about my OWN needs as of late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-diamond/i-am-on-sabbatical-as-of-right-now-been-too-busy-to-think-of-about-my/) [Jim Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-diamond/) > [I am strongly opposed to any form of amnesty, including, especially, executive amnesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-scalise/i-am-strongly-opposed-to-any-form-of-amnesty-including-especially/) [Steve Scalise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-scalise/) > [I am no different from a lot of people. I am concerned for the future of my children and concerned for the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/i-am-no-different-from-a-lot-of-people-i-am-concerned-for-the-future/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [I won't be managing the Mets. I am closing the door on managing the Mets and probably everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-torre/i-won-t-be-managing-the-mets-i-am-closing-the-door-on-managing-the/) [Joe Torre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-torre/) > [I know who I am. I know what I represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-cora/i-know-who-i-am-i-know-what-i-represent/) [Alex Cora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-cora/) > [I am fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-westheimer/i-am-fortunate/) [Ruth Westheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-westheimer/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Acting is what I do with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-walter/acting-is-what-i-do-with-who-i-am/) [Harriet Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-walter/) > [I am a big outliner. For my adult book, 'The Visibles,' I did not outline, and it took me two years to write because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-shepard/i-am-a-big-outliner-for-my-adult-book-the-visibles-i-did-not-outline/) [Sara Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-shepard/) Browse all 9,589 Am quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "While writing a novel, I don't read anything new in fiction. 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