--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I could write an entertaining novel about…" description: "\"I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long.\" — Louise Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/louise-brown-19852_books_i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-abou_1365931.png" --- # I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips… ![“I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long.” quote by Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/louise-brown-19852_books_i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-abou_1365931.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/louise-brown-19852_books_i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-abou_1365931.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/louise-brown-19852_books_i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-abou_1365931.png) > “I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long.” [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. The speaker jokes that writing about rejection would be too lengthy, highlighting fear of overextension. **In simple terms:** Writing about rejection might become too long. Key Takeaway Avoid overcomplicating ideas. Themes humor self-awareness writing Mood playful reflective Type anecdotal self‑deprecating When to use this quote - author brainstorming - draft editing - publishing decisions - personal reflection Key Concepts brevity creative restraint Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance humor and depth? - When is brevity more effective than detail? A Different Perspective May limit creative honesty if overly cautious. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Heartbreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbreak/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If the story wasn't overly long, I'd type it out. And I'd carry it around with me for a week and jot notes on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/if-the-story-wasn-t-overly-long-i-d-type-it-out-and-i-d-carry-it/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [All the other kids in ninth grade were drawing hot rods and cocker spaniels and getting blue ribbons in art class. I was getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-holland/all-the-other-kids-in-ninth-grade-were-drawing-hot-rods-and-cocker/) [Brad Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-holland/) > [To ward off a feeling of failure, she joked that she could wallpaper her bathroom with rejection slips, which she chose not to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-shreve/to-ward-off-a-feeling-of-failure-she-joked-that-she-could-wallpaper/) [Anita Shreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-shreve/) > [I wrote for twelve years and collected 250 rejection slips before getting any fiction published, so I guess outside reinforcement isn't all that important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/i-wrote-for-twelve-years-and-collected-250-rejection-slips-before/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [You do it a day at a time. You just put your rejection slips in a shoebox and tell yourself one day you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lee-burke/you-do-it-a-day-at-a-time-you-just-put-your-rejection-slips-in-a/) [James Lee Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lee-burke/) > [I've got a folder full of rejection slips that I keep. Know why? Because those same editors are now calling my agent hoping I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryjanice-davidson/i-ve-got-a-folder-full-of-rejection-slips-that-i-keep-know-why/) [MaryJanice Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryjanice-davidson/) > [Nobody told me how hard it was going to be to get published. I wrote four novels that nobody wanted, sent them out all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/nobody-told-me-how-hard-it-was-going-to-be-to-get-published-i-wrote/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [I love my rejection slips. They show me I try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-love-my-rejection-slips-they-show-me-i-try/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [I've been trying to write a book since before I was old enough to vote, and I've collected many rejection slips from publishers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-moehringer/i-ve-been-trying-to-write-a-book-since-before-i-was-old-enough-to/) [J. R. Moehringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-moehringer/) > [Most writers, including myself, had to endure a lot of rejections before finally getting published. You could wallpaper a sizeable bathroom with the rejection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-weeks/most-writers-including-myself-had-to-endure-a-lot-of-rejections/) [Jonathan Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-weeks/) > [It had been fourteen years and I hadn't had anything published. I had 250 rejection slips. I got my first novel published and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-alther/it-had-been-fourteen-years-and-i-hadn-t-had-anything-published-i-had/) [Lisa Alther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-alther/) > [Rejection slips, or form letters, however tactfully phrased, are lacerations of the soul, if not quite inventions of the devil-but there is no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/rejection-slips-or-form-letters-however-tactfully-phrased-are/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Work like hell! I had 122 rejection slips before I sold a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/work-like-hell-i-had-122-rejection-slips-before-i-sold-a-story/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [It's a shame publishers send rejection slips. Writers should get something more substantial than a slip that amounts to a pile of confetti. Publishers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/it-s-a-shame-publishers-send-rejection-slips-writers-should-get/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [I used to save all my rejection slips because I told myself, one day I'm going to autograph these and auction them. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lee-burke/i-used-to-save-all-my-rejection-slips-because-i-told-myself-one-day-i/) [James Lee Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lee-burke/) ## 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/) > [It took a brave editor in the U.S. to sign a contract for Dancing Girls, and without her belief in the book, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/it-took-a-brave-editor-in-the-u-s-to-sign-a-contract-for-dancing/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) [Explore all 32 Louise Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) ## 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 > [“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 > [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": "I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Louise Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-about-rejection-slips-but-i-fear/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-about-rejection-slips-but-i-fear/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/louise-brown-19852_books_i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-abou_1365931.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/louise-brown-19852_books_i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-abou_1365931.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/louise-brown-19852_books_i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-abou_1365931.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I could write an entertaining novel about rejection slips, but I fear it would be overly long.” — Louise Brown", "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": "Louise Brown", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I could write an entertaining novel...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-about-rejection-slips-but-i-fear/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/i-could-write-an-entertaining-novel-about-rejection-slips-but-i-fear/#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 } } ] } ```