--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You would go mad if you began to…" description: "\"You would go mad if you began to speculate about the impact your novel might have while you were still writing it.\" — Jonathan Coe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/jonathan-coe-10154_books_you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-specula_2829040.jpg" --- # You would go mad if you began to speculate about the… ![“You would go mad if you began to speculate about the impact your novel might have while you were still writing it.” quote by Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/jonathan-coe-10154_books_you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-specula_2829040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/jonathan-coe-10154_books_you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-specula_2829040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/jonathan-coe-10154_books_you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-specula_2829040.jpg) > “You would go mad if you began to speculate about the impact your novel might have while you were still writing it.” [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speculating on a work’s future impact while creating it leads to anxiety and distraction. **In simple terms:** Worrying about future reception harms the writing process. Key Takeaway Focus on writing, not on future fame. Themes creativity anxiety artistic process Mood reflective concerned Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing a novel - planning a project - seeking feedback - managing expectations Key Concepts self‑fulfilling prophecy creative focus Questions to Reflect On - How does anticipation affect your creative flow? - Can you balance planning with spontaneity? A Different Perspective The quote assumes all speculation is harmful, ignoring useful market research. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [People will speculate about what they want, but that is not my intention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/people-will-speculate-about-what-they-want-but-that-is-not-my/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [I will never speculate on data. I always need to see data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-birx/i-will-never-speculate-on-data-i-always-need-to-see-data/) [Deborah Birx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-birx/) > [We can speculate on what's likely, but what's needed is an investigation. And speculation is no substitute for facts. As a former prosecutor, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-blumenthal/we-can-speculate-on-what-s-likely-but-what-s-needed-is-an/) [Richard Blumenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-blumenthal/) > [“If you have to speculate if someone loves you and wants to be with you, chances are they don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-lynn-hope/if-you-have-to-speculate-if-someone-loves-you-and-wants-to-be-with/) [Donna Lynn Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-lynn-hope/) > [When people mention our solo projects, people start guessing: What will Rose do? What will Lisa do? I enjoy watching fans speculate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jisoo/when-people-mention-our-solo-projects-people-start-guessing-what-will/) [Jisoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jisoo/) > [I secretly think reality exists so we can speculate about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavoj-i-ek/i-secretly-think-reality-exists-so-we-can-speculate-about-it/) [Slavoj Zizek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavoj-i-ek/) > [The 3-point shot would have certainly added more to my career points, but I don't know how many. It's one of those things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-havlicek/the-3-point-shot-would-have-certainly-added-more-to-my-career-points/) [John Havlicek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-havlicek/) > [I will not rule out anything. I don't speculate on my own future. I'll wait and see what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyrone-willingham/i-will-not-rule-out-anything-i-don-t-speculate-on-my-own-future-i-ll/) [Tyrone Willingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyrone-willingham/) > [Rumours are rumours. The Internet is going to report whatever they have to speculate on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/future/rumours-are-rumours-the-internet-is-going-to-report-whatever-they/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/future/) > [I can't speculate on what did or did not happen. I only know what I said and what I intended to convey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-can-t-speculate-on-what-did-or-did-not-happen-i-only-know-what-i/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I have a novel that I can write. It's about three soldiers from Somalia. Some babies have been disappearing up on 144th Street, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/i-have-a-novel-that-i-can-write-it-s-about-three-soldiers-from/) [Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/) > [“Yes, yes, but the freedom to speculate is essential-" "No one has tried to deprive you of that. Nor is anyone offended. But to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr/yes-yes-but-the-freedom-to-speculate-is-essential-no-one-has-tried-to/) [Walter M. Miller Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr/) > [It is much better to learn to deal with the ills we have now than to speculate on those that may befall us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-much-better-to-learn-to-deal-with-the-ills-we-have-now-than-to/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [It's hard to speculate what tomorrow may bring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/it-s-hard-to-speculate-what-tomorrow-may-bring/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [The goal is not to speculate on what might happen, but to imagine what you can make happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/the-goal-is-not-to-speculate-on-what-might-happen-but-to-imagine-what/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) ## More by Jonathan Coe > [I was going to say 'my friend Stuart', but I suppose he's not a friend any more. I seem to have lost a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-was-going-to-say-my-friend-stuart-but-i-suppose-he-s-not-a-friend/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“The upshot was that she lost her religion - with a vengeance - and walked out on him, taking these three daughters with her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-upshot-was-that-she-lost-her-religion-with-a-vengeance-and-walked/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [The plain fact is that she never really liked me, and never wanted me. I had been a mistake; and that, to some extent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-plain-fact-is-that-she-never-really-liked-me-and-never-wanted-me/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“Yes, she would have been partial to men, perhaps she might even have confined herself to one man in particular, if only she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/yes-she-would-have-been-partial-to-men-perhaps-she-might-even-have/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“You didn't take part, Benjamin?" Gunther asked, as he passed me a plate of cheese and cold meat. "My brother doesn't play games," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/you-didn-t-take-part-benjamin-gunther-asked-as-he-passed-me-a-plate/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [As soon as you start writing about how human beings interact with each other socially, you're into politics, aren't you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/as-soon-as-you-start-writing-about-how-human-beings-interact-with/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [I like the idea of a big caesura between the narratives, a space which readers can fill in with their own speculative history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-like-the-idea-of-a-big-caesura-between-the-narratives-a-space-which/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [They were written in the early '90s when I was strapped for cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/they-were-written-in-the-early-90s-when-i-was-strapped-for-cash/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [The more melancholy side of my literary personality is much in tune with BS Johnson's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-more-melancholy-side-of-my-literary-personality-is-much-in-tune/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [I had no sense of any reputation that What a Carve Up! might acquire - at the time I didnt even have a publisher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-had-no-sense-of-any-reputation-that-what-a-carve-up-might-acquire/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [Ah, well, I have no talent for nonfiction, that's my problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/ah-well-i-have-no-talent-for-nonfiction-that-s-my-problem/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [But at the same time, I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don't write short stories because they turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/but-at-the-same-time-i-have-trouble-keeping-things-out-of-books-which/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“Save some pity for the Misfit, fighting on with bursting heart; Not a trace of common sense, his is no common flight. Save, save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/save-some-pity-for-the-misfit-fighting-on-with-bursting-heart-not-a/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“Well, there'll be an outcry, of course, but then it'll die down and something else will come along for people to get annoyed about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/well-there-ll-be-an-outcry-of-course-but-then-it-ll-die-down-and/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“Le auto sono come le persone. Ogni giorno andiamo in giro in mezzo alla ressa, corriamo di qua e di là, arrivando quasi a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/le-auto-sono-come-le-persone-ogni-giorno-andiamo-in-giro-in-mezzo/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Explore all 60 Jonathan Coe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [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/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You would go mad if you began to speculate about the impact your novel might have while you were still writing it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-speculate-about-the-impact-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-speculate-about-the-impact-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/jonathan-coe-10154_books_you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-specula_2829040.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/jonathan-coe-10154_books_you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-specula_2829040.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41a/jonathan-coe-10154_books_you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-specula_2829040.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You would go mad if you began to speculate about the impact your novel might have while you were still…” — Jonathan Coe", "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": "Jonathan Coe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You would go mad if you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-speculate-about-the-impact-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/you-would-go-mad-if-you-began-to-speculate-about-the-impact-your/#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 } } ] } ```