Away Quote by Lionel Shriver
“What a good novelist does with a throwaway that serves no fictional purpose is throw it away.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Literary Review, 2018
A writer should eliminate unnecessary elements that do not serve the story’s purpose.
In simple terms: Remove useless parts from a novel.
Key Takeaway
Edit ruthlessly for relevance.
Themes
writing
editing
clarity
literature
efficiency
Mood
critical
analytical
thoughtful
Type
instructional
literary
When to use this quote
- manuscript revision
- peer review
- publishing process
- creative workshops
Key Concepts
narrative structure
economy of language
storytelling
Questions to Reflect On
- When is a “throwaway” detail actually valuable?
- How do you balance brevity with richness?
A Different Perspective
Sometimes seemingly trivial details can enrich subtext or character depth.
![“Charlie Huston, who showran the first season [of Powers], is a novelist, and likes to internalize fiction as a novelist does.” quote by Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1cb/brian-michael-bendis-9912_charlie_charlie-huston-who-showran-the-first-sea_1362449.jpg)
![“I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to [when I started my career], because so many things are on the road. I just don't want to be away from my husband, my dogs and my home. I don't sing that much any more because that also takes you on the road.” quote by Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07c/jane-powell-36243_away_i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s_278.jpg)
