--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I bought a selection of short, romantic…" description: "\"I bought a selection of short, romantic fiction novels, studied them, decided that I had found a formula and then wrote a book that I figured was the p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/louise-brown-19852_book_i-bought-a-selection-of-short-romantic-f_1938213.png" --- # I bought a selection of short, romantic fiction novels… ![“I bought a selection of short, romantic fiction novels, studied them, decided that I had found a formula and then wrote a book that I figured was the perfect story. Thank goodness it was rejected.” quote by Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/louise-brown-19852_book_i-bought-a-selection-of-short-romantic-f_1938213.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/louise-brown-19852_book_i-bought-a-selection-of-short-romantic-f_1938213.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4da/louise-brown-19852_book_i-bought-a-selection-of-short-romantic-f_1938213.png) > “I bought a selection of short, romantic fiction novels, studied them, decided that I had found a formula and then wrote a book that I figured was the perfect story. Thank goodness it was rejected.” [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She tried to engineer a perfect romance formula, but rejection saved her from a shallow story. **In simple terms:** Formulaic writing failed. Key Takeaway Avoid over‑planning narratives. Themes creativity failure literature Mood reflective humorous Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - publishing - creative process Key Concepts storytelling authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can failure improve your craft? - What does “perfect story” mean? A Different Perspective Success often comes from unintended outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Decided Formula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided-formula-3072665/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Formula Wrote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formula-wrote-3072664/) [Formulas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formulas/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Goodness Rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness-rejected-3072663/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Perfect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect/) [Rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejected/) [Romantic Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romantic-fiction-1065974/) [Selection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selection/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thank goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank-goodness/) ## Related quotes > [Forget romantic fiction, a survey has found that most women would rather read a good book than go shopping, have sex, or sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-street-porter/forget-romantic-fiction-a-survey-has-found-that-most-women-would/) [Janet Street-Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-street-porter/) > [“Writing romantic fiction is the second chance that loved ones denied us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-alder/writing-romantic-fiction-is-the-second-chance-that-loved-ones-denied/) [Shannon Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-alder/) > [“Or was he the romantic fiction of a girl who'd been desperate for a handsome stranger to come along?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/or-was-he-the-romantic-fiction-of-a-girl-who-d-been-desperate-for-a/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [I read almost no romantic fiction, in part because I barely believe in romance in the age of Tinder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/i-read-almost-no-romantic-fiction-in-part-because-i-barely-believe-in/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [Nobody's life is as romantic as it is in fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-glick/nobody-s-life-is-as-romantic-as-it-is-in-fiction/) [Ruth Glick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-glick/) > [Nobodys life is as romantic as it is in fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-glick/nobodys-life-is-as-romantic-as-it-is-in-fiction/) [Ruth Glick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-glick/) > [Bitcoin is absolutely the Wild West of finance, and thank goodness. It represents a whole legion of adventurers and entrepreneurs, of risk takers, inventors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-voorhees/bitcoin-is-absolutely-the-wild-west-of-finance-and-thank-goodness-it/) [Erik Voorhees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-voorhees/) > [“Lunch started off tense after our heated moment. Thank goodness for Blake. Kai was warm toward him, reserving his coolness for me. I watched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweet-peril-wendy-higgins/lunch-started-off-tense-after-our-heated-moment-thank-goodness-for/) [Sweet Peril Wendy Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweet-peril-wendy-higgins/) > [“I’ll prove who I am, Kingsley, after I’ve seen my son, now back off if you know what’s good for you!” Harry had never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/i-ll-prove-who-i-am-kingsley-after-i-ve-seen-my-son-now-back-off-if/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [You'd think that would have been forgotten long ago. But no, no sooner has a little grass grown over it than some clumsy camel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerstin-gier/you-d-think-that-would-have-been-forgotten-long-ago-but-no-no-sooner/) [Kerstin Gier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerstin-gier/) > [Thank goodness pets cant talk, they all know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thank-goodness-pets-cant-talk-they-all-know-too-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thank goodness I had a great family growing up, a great foundation. But I will say my faith, my parents, my family, all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-osmond/thank-goodness-i-had-a-great-family-growing-up-a-great-foundation-but/) [Donny Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-osmond/) > [Rene Char wrote somewhere, apropos poetry, that there are those who create and those who discover; they are too completely different worlds. Photograph also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/rene-char-wrote-somewhere-apropos-poetry-that-there-are-those-who/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [“…and who are you, anyway?" "I'm Tina.” "Thank goodness!” I said so loudly she stepped back. "No silly-ass overdone names for you, m'girl.” "It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryjanice-davidson/and-who-are-you-anyway-i-m-tina-thank-goodness-i-said-so-loudly-she/) [MaryJanice Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryjanice-davidson/) > [There's always something going on, but thank goodness these days it's with a clear head, which helps me massively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/there-s-always-something-going-on-but-thank-goodness-these-days-it-s/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) ## More by Louise Brown > [Remember that what you have is unique because it's your own special way of looking at the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/remember-that-what-you-have-is-unique-because-it-s-your-own-special/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [The richest most meaningful stories are found in small places: made, carried, crafted, told, and retold by apparently unimportant people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/the-richest-most-meaningful-stories-are-found-in-small-places-made/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [I thought it was something peculiar to me. I thought I was abnormal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/i-thought-it-was-something-peculiar-to-me-i-thought-i-was-abnormal/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [I used to think about how I was conceived quite a lot when I was about 10 or 11, but I don't think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/i-used-to-think-about-how-i-was-conceived-quite-a-lot-when-i-was/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [The young women in my classes are feisty and clever and believe, often with the passion of youthful optimism, that feminism is a battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/the-young-women-in-my-classes-are-feisty-and-clever-and-believe-often/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [“I’m playing catch with Nisha and Nena. They’re standing against the opposite wall shrieking with enjoyment. They’re teenagers, but they’ve never played catch before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/i-m-playing-catch-with-nisha-and-nena-they-re-standing-against-the/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [Don't write the book you think publishers want to commission. Plenty of other writers will be doing the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/don-t-write-the-book-you-think-publishers-want-to-commission-plenty/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [People still come up to me and ask whether I am Louise Brown or if they've seen me somewhere else before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/people-still-come-up-to-me-and-ask-whether-i-am-louise-brown-or-if/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [Reading is my greatest luxury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/reading-is-my-greatest-luxury/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [Don't call 'em dogs. Dogs are loyal and they run after balls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/don-t-call-em-dogs-dogs-are-loyal-and-they-run-after-balls/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [Every year I teach dozens of students at the University of Birmingham. Most of the students on the gender and sexuality courses are women.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/every-year-i-teach-dozens-of-students-at-the-university-of-birmingham/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [Then I obviously didn't understand what it all meant, but I do now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/then-i-obviously-didn-t-understand-what-it-all-meant-but-i-do-now/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [VReading is my greatest luxury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/vreading-is-my-greatest-luxury/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [The importance and influence of books on me has been cumulative: the result of hearing and reading lots of stories about interesting people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/the-importance-and-influence-of-books-on-me-has-been-cumulative-the/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-about-rejection-slips-but-i-fear/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) [Explore all 32 Louise Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) ## More Book 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I bought a selection of short, romantic fiction novels, studied them, decided that I had found a formula and then wrote a book that I figured was the perfect story. 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