Cold Quote by Karl Marlantes
“When I first got back from the war, I said, 'I'm gonna write the Great American Novel about the Vietnam War.' So I sat down and wrote 1,700 pages of sheer psychotherapy drivel. It was first person, and there would be pages about wet socks and cold feet.”
About This Quote
Attempting to write a war novel resulted in a massive, unfocused manuscript lacking narrative clarity.
In simple terms: Writing a war novel turned into endless, unfocused pages.
Key Takeaway
Focus on structure and purpose when tackling large projects.
Themes
writing
war
discipline
Mood
self‑critical
creative
Type
advice
reflection
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- war memoir
- personal therapy
Key Concepts
narrative focus
creative process
Questions to Reflect On
- What core story do you want to tell?
- How can you edit for impact?
A Different Perspective
Length alone doesn’t guarantee quality.
![“My original book [Straight to the Heart: Political Cantos] was 1,700 pages. The first editor brought it down to 700; there was a lot that didn't make it in. But at last it's finished. I had a hard time signing off on it. And I was worried about it hurting anyone I loved even indirectly. I sat in…” quote by Angela Alioto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1f2/angela-alioto-29373_being-judged_my-original-book-straight-to-the-heart-p_929484.jpg)
![“This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day [as a Fairfax Justice of the Peace] since I have been at Home. I wish I knew where to get a good one myself; for I find cold Sheets extreamly disagreeable.” quote by George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b92/george-mason-8435_bedfellows_this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young_3953.jpg)
