--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My problem with new writers is that it…" description: "\"My problem with new writers is that it takes me five or six years to memorise the right names.\" — Larry Niven" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/larry-niven-4263_five_my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-t_530326.png" --- # My problem with new writers is that it takes me five or… ![“My problem with new writers is that it takes me five or six years to memorise the right names.” quote by Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/larry-niven-4263_five_my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-t_530326.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/larry-niven-4263_five_my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-t_530326.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/larry-niven-4263_five_my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-t_530326.png) > “My problem with new writers is that it takes me five or six years to memorise the right names.” [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning to recognize influential writers takes years of exposure and study. **In simple terms:** Memorizing author names takes time. Key Takeaway Invest in reading broadly. Themes literature learning memory Mood reflective determined Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - creative writing - book clubs - literary criticism Key Concepts cultural literacy author recognition Questions to Reflect On - How can you accelerate familiarity with key writers? - What resources help track literary influences? A Different Perspective Time constraints can limit exposure to diverse voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I can memorise Tamil lines fast. I feel at home speaking the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamannaah/i-can-memorise-tamil-lines-fast-i-feel-at-home-speaking-the-language/) [Tamannaah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamannaah/) > [Never memorise what you can look up in a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/never-memorise-what-you-can-look-up-in-a-book/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Knowledge is not which is memorise, Knowledge is that which benefits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ash-shafai/knowledge-is-not-which-is-memorise-knowledge-is-that-which-benefits/) Ash Shafai > [The most efficient way to memorise a piece is to use the one which proceeds in an error free manner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-rachmaninoff/the-most-efficient-way-to-memorise-a-piece-is-to-use-the-one-which/) [Sergei Rachmaninoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-rachmaninoff/) > [If you're a comic, you don't have a rehearsal room; you rehearse on stage. My main concern is remembering everything. I've written lots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/if-you-re-a-comic-you-don-t-have-a-rehearsal-room-you-rehearse-on-2/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [Being asked to memorise a script in one day when you have dyslexia is the same as having a broken foot and being asked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaya-scodelario/being-asked-to-memorise-a-script-in-one-day-when-you-have-dyslexia-is/) [Kaya Scodelario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaya-scodelario/) > [I can memorise lines quickly. Knowing Telugu now has helped improve my performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakul-preet-singh/i-can-memorise-lines-quickly-knowing-telugu-now-has-helped-improve-my/) [Rakul Preet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakul-preet-singh/) > [Everyone has ways of trying to find a way to memorise our past. There's something very poetic about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saskia-de-brauw/everyone-has-ways-of-trying-to-find-a-way-to-memorise-our-past-there/) [Saskia de Brauw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saskia-de-brauw/) > [“I want to memorise every aspect of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/i-want-to-memorise-every-aspect-of-you/) Truth Devour > [Always, as a child, I would go around the house, and if I found a word that I didn't know the meaning of, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-adornetto/always-as-a-child-i-would-go-around-the-house-and-if-i-found-a-word/) [Alexandra Adornetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-adornetto/) > [Someone told me once that Lucinda Williams takes six years between albums, and that's what stuck to me; it's like, you really are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-ditto/someone-told-me-once-that-lucinda-williams-takes-six-years-between/) [Beth Ditto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-ditto/) > [“Lately, because computer technology has made self-publishing an easier and less expensive venture, I'm getting a lot of review copies of amateur books by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-windling/lately-because-computer-technology-has-made-self-publishing-an-easier/) [Terri Windling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-windling/) > [You're forced to me to back going on copy & pest throughout eliminating my name on my own composition. that's really painful things for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-re-forced-to-me-to-back-going-on-copy-pest-throughout-eliminating/) Mak\_786 > [We've got a bunch of new writers now who tell me they grew up watching The Simpsons. It's bizarre, and they're writing some very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/we-ve-got-a-bunch-of-new-writers-now-who-tell-me-they-grew-up/) [Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/) > [A lot of times, when people send me books to read - new writers mostly - I find that the book is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/a-lot-of-times-when-people-send-me-books-to-read-new-writers-mostly-i/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) ## More by Larry Niven > [“Once Louis Wu had sworn to live forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/once-louis-wu-had-sworn-to-live-forever/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [In challenging a kzin, a simple scream of rage is sufficient. You scream and you leap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/in-challenging-a-kzin-a-simple-scream-of-rage-is-sufficient-you/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“There is no cause so good or noble that it will not attract fuggheads; and the fuggheads will get all the press.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/there-is-no-cause-so-good-or-noble-that-it-will-not-attract-fuggheads/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Music had played suddenly through the cabin, complex and lovely, rich in minor tones, like the sad call of a sex-maddened computer. Nessus whistled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/music-had-played-suddenly-through-the-cabin-complex-and-lovely-rich/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“This place is a playground for a questing mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/this-place-is-a-playground-for-a-questing-mind/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“have precious little free will," he was saying. "We're too intelligent not to see the right answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/have-precious-little-free-will-he-was-saying-we-re-too-intelligent/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“1a) Never throw shit at an armed man. 1b) Never stand next to someone who is throwing shit at an armed man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/1a-never-throw-shit-at-an-armed-man-1b-never-stand-next-to-someone/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [We learn only to ask more questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/we-learn-only-to-ask-more-questions/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“Everything starts as somebody's dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/everything-starts-as-somebody-s-dream/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [“I asked him, "Do you know the difference between nude and naked?" He shook his head. "Nude is artistic. Naked is defenseless.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/i-asked-him-do-you-know-the-difference-between-nude-and-naked-he/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [Intelligence is just a tool to be used toward a goal, and goals are not always chosen intelligently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/intelligence-is-just-a-tool-to-be-used-toward-a-goal-and-goals-are/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [And every friend I've got has been writing Mars stories. It was pretty clear I'd never catch up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/and-every-friend-i-ve-got-has-been-writing-mars-stories-it-was-pretty/) [Larry Niven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/) > [For each human being there is an optimum ratio between change and stasis. Too little change, he grows bored. 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I've taken breaks as the years have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-made-like-five-movies-while-i-was-in-college-i-think-they-just/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Five days or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/five-days-or-five-months-but-it-certainly-isn-t-going-to-last-longer/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [If you look at the charts every year, there may be five or ten memorable songs from each year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-jackson/if-you-look-at-the-charts-every-year-there-may-be-five-or-ten/) [Randy Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-jackson/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [That is the real problem of depression - a condition which will affect an estimated one in five of the population at some point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-andreae/that-is-the-real-problem-of-depression-a-condition-which-will-affect/) [Giles Andreae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-andreae/) > [I don't think you should ever say, 'This is the last time'. Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [I don't think we need a featuring though , because five of us are enough .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-hyun-joong/i-don-t-think-we-need-a-featuring-though-because-five-of-us-are-enough/) [Kim Hyun-joong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-hyun-joong/) > [People who are complaining about the Fed are people who've been predicting runaway inflation for five and six years, and it hasn't happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/people-who-are-complaining-about-the-fed-are-people-who-ve-been/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [I am naturally a thin person and I am 5'1" and putting on five or 10 pounds, that looks like a lot on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-richie/i-am-naturally-a-thin-person-and-i-am-5-1-and-putting-on-five-or-10/) [Nicole Richie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-richie/) > [The official independence celebration was going to be held over four or five days, and a group of journalists from all over the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryszard-kapuscinski/the-official-independence-celebration-was-going-to-be-held-over-four/) [Ryszard Kapuscinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryszard-kapuscinski/) > [Man, you'd be surprised how much I'm learning - not only about myself, but about the musicians who came before me. You don't realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-hubbard/man-you-d-be-surprised-how-much-i-m-learning-not-only-about-myself/) [Freddie Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-hubbard/) > [A lot of times, when people send me books to read - new writers mostly - I find that the book is still in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/a-lot-of-times-when-people-send-me-books-to-read-new-writers-mostly-i/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) Browse all 6,265 Five quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My problem with new writers is that it takes me five or six years to memorise the right names.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Larry Niven" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-takes-me-five-or-six-years-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Five" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-takes-me-five-or-six-years-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/larry-niven-4263_five_my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-t_530326.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/larry-niven-4263_five_my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-t_530326.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a67/larry-niven-4263_five_my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-t_530326.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My problem with new writers is that it takes me five or six years to memorise the right names.” — Larry Niven", "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": "Larry Niven", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-niven/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My problem with new writers is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-takes-me-five-or-six-years-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-niven/my-problem-with-new-writers-is-that-it-takes-me-five-or-six-years-to/#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 } } ] } ```