--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every time I start a new novel, it seems…" description: "\"Every time I start a new novel, it seems like an impossible undertaking. If I tried to do too much too quickly, I would get lost and feel overwhelmed. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/louis-sachar-4066_books_every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems_1357667.jpg" --- # Every time I start a new novel, it seems like an… ![“Every time I start a new novel, it seems like an impossible undertaking. If I tried to do too much too quickly, I would get lost and feel overwhelmed. I have to go slow, and give things a chance to take form and grow.” quote by Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/louis-sachar-4066_books_every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems_1357667.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/louis-sachar-4066_books_every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems_1357667.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/louis-sachar-4066_books_every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems_1357667.jpg) > “Every time I start a new novel, it seems like an impossible undertaking. If I tried to do too much too quickly, I would get lost and feel overwhelmed. I have to go slow, and give things a chance to take form and grow.” [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Starting a new project feels daunting; rushing leads to confusion and stress, so pacing and patience allow ideas to develop naturally. **In simple terms:** New projects feel overwhelming; go slow to let them grow. Key Takeaway Proceed deliberately, give ideas time. Themes patience process growth Mood reflective calm Type advisory motivational When to use this quote - writing a novel - starting a research project - learning a new skill - building a business Key Concepts creative development focus mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you structure your work to maintain steady progress? - What small milestones can you set to track growth? A Different Perspective Rushing can cause burnout and missed details. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Every time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-time/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Overwhelmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-overwhelmed/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Give](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/give/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow/) [I tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-tried/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Impossible Undertaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible-undertaking-4636858/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Lost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Overwhelmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelmed/) [Overwhelmed Slow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelmed-slow-4636857/) [Quickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quickly/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Slow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Start New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-new/) [Take](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Too](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried/) [Undertaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undertaking/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [With 'Holes' I was troubled that there weren't very many female characters. I tried to put them in where I could. But the setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/with-holes-i-was-troubled-that-there-weren-t-very-many-female/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [I suspect most politicians feel overwhelmed because people's lives are a real struggle, full of unhappiness, and you would probably feel powerless to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-brand/i-suspect-most-politicians-feel-overwhelmed-because-people-s-lives/) [Jo Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-brand/) > [One thing I discovered is that the book world is vast. It's easy to walk around the store - even the room with literature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-sampsell/one-thing-i-discovered-is-that-the-book-world-is-vast-it-s-easy-to/) [Kevin Sampsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-sampsell/) > [“When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do? I have a friend at the gym who knew Jack LaLanne (Google him if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-ferriss/when-you-feel-overwhelmed-or-unfocused-what-do-you-do-i-have-a-friend/) [Timothy Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-ferriss/) > [When you do nothing you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/when-you-do-nothing-you-feel-overwhelmed-and-powerless-but-when-you/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [“If we feel overwhelmed, our nervous systems drive us to defend against overstimulation and preserve the self. To grasp this concept requires a paradigm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-heller/if-we-feel-overwhelmed-our-nervous-systems-drive-us-to-defend-against/) [Sharon Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-heller/) > [I don't feel overwhelmed with information. I really like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-mayer/i-don-t-feel-overwhelmed-with-information-i-really-like-it/) [Marissa Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-mayer/) > [“We have so much to balance constantly, and women especially juggle more jobs and responsibilities than ever before. The pressure to be everything to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-william/we-have-so-much-to-balance-constantly-and-women-especially-juggle/) [Anthony William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-william/) > [The real focus at first is to just become a good stand-up comedian, and then when you get to a certain level, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-real-focus-at-first-is-to-just-become-a-good-stand-up-comedian/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [I might feel overwhelmed and stressed but I have a warm home, loving family, food my fridge & I'm loved to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-might-feel-overwhelmed-and-stressed-but-i-have-a-warm-home-loving/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always look for positivity in every encounter, in every challenge, and in every moment when you feel overwhelmed with a demanding situation. It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/always-look-for-positivity-in-every-encounter-in-every-challenge-and/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [I know that each of us has much to do. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the tasks we face. But if we keep our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/i-know-that-each-of-us-has-much-to-do-sometimes-we-feel-overwhelmed/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [It's okay to be annoyed with your significant other and feel overwhelmed at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaitlyn-bristowe/it-s-okay-to-be-annoyed-with-your-significant-other-and-feel/) [Kaitlyn Bristowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaitlyn-bristowe/) > [Dont worry about anything. When you feel yourself being overwhelmed by fears and concerns, pray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-worry-about-anything-when-you-feel-yourself-being-overwhelmed-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Often when people are diagnosed with a life-changing medical condition, they feel overwhelmed. They feel choked by darkness and hopelessness. Those are times when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/often-when-people-are-diagnosed-with-a-life-changing-medical/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) ## More by Louis Sachar > [“And what would you like, Sharie?" asked Miss Mush. "What do you have?" asked Sharie. "Potato salad". "What else is there?" asked Sharie. "Nothing"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/and-what-would-you-like-sharie-asked-miss-mush-what-do-you-have-asked/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [I think of a book and a play, or a book and a movie, as two separate things - I don't think of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/i-think-of-a-book-and-a-play-or-a-book-and-a-movie-as-two-separate/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [Rattlesnakes would be a lot more dangerous if they didn't have the rattle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/rattlesnakes-would-be-a-lot-more-dangerous-if-they-didn-t-have-the/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [You make the decision: Whom did God punish?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/you-make-the-decision-whom-did-god-punish/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [I jog in the morning and then write for about two hours. There are times when I'm really excited and can't wait to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/i-jog-in-the-morning-and-then-write-for-about-two-hours-there-are/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“He didn’t have any friends at home. He was overweight and the kids at his middle school often teased him about his size. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/he-didn-t-have-any-friends-at-home-he-was-overweight-and-the-kids-at/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“If only, if only, the woodpecker sighs, The bark on the tree was just a little bit softer. While the wolf waits below, hungry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/if-only-if-only-the-woodpecker-sighs-the-bark-on-the-tree-was-just-a/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“Friends always break even.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/friends-always-break-even/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“Special Today: Mushroom Surprise He”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/special-today-mushroom-surprise-he/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [But don't forget who you really are. And I'm not talking about your so-called real name. All names are made up by someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/but-don-t-forget-who-you-really-are-and-i-m-not-talking-about-your-so/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“Myron had named him “Oddly.” Myron had named him oddly. “Is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/myron-had-named-him-oddly-myron-had-named-him-oddly-is/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [You have only one life, make the most of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/you-have-only-one-life-make-the-most-of-it/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [Warning: Do not read this story right after eating. In fact, don't read it right before eating either. In fact, just to be safe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/warning-do-not-read-this-story-right-after-eating-in-fact-don-t-read/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“But don't forget who you really are. And I'm not talking about your so-called real name. All names are made up by someone else,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/but-don-t-forget-who-you-really-are-and-i-m-not-talking-about-your-so-2/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [“When you spend your whole life living in a hole, the only way you can go is up. (Zero/Hector Zeroni)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/when-you-spend-your-whole-life-living-in-a-hole-the-only-way-you-can/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) [Explore all 114 Louis Sachar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Every time I start a new novel, it seems like an impossible undertaking. If I tried to do too much too quickly, I would get lost and feel overwhelmed. I have to go slow, and give things a chance to take form and grow.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louis Sachar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems-like-an-impossible/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems-like-an-impossible/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/louis-sachar-4066_books_every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems_1357667.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/louis-sachar-4066_books_every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems_1357667.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/549/louis-sachar-4066_books_every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems_1357667.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every time I start a new novel, it seems like an impossible undertaking. If I tried to do too much too…” — Louis Sachar", "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": "Louis Sachar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every time I start a new...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems-like-an-impossible/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/every-time-i-start-a-new-novel-it-seems-like-an-impossible/#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 } } ] } ```