Books Quote by May Sarton
“My own feeling is that the only possible reason for engaging in the hard labor of writing a novel, is that one is bothered by something one needs to understand, and can come to understand only through the characters in the imagined situation.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The House of the Spirits, 1971, novel excerpt
Writing novels stems from a need to understand personal concerns through imagined characters.
In simple terms: Writing helps solve personal puzzles via characters.
Key Takeaway
Use fiction to explore and resolve inner questions.
Themes
writing
self‑discovery
fiction
psychology
Mood
introspective
creative
Type
literary
self‑help
When to use this quote
- creative writing workshops
- therapy sessions
- personal journaling
- storytelling circles
Key Concepts
literature
cognitive therapy
narrative empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- What personal issue drives your writing?
- How can characters reflect your true self?
A Different Perspective
Fiction may not replace real‑world action.
