--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I wrote 'The Interestings,' I wanted…" description: "\"When I wrote 'The Interestings,' I wanted to let time unspool, to give the book the feeling of time passing. I had to allow myself the freedom to move ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/meg-wolitzer-2224_accept_when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-t_441243.jpg" --- # When I wrote 'The Interestings,' I wanted to let time… ![“When I wrote 'The Interestings,' I wanted to let time unspool, to give the book the feeling of time passing. I had to allow myself the freedom to move back and forth in time freely, and to trust that readers would accept this.” quote by Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/meg-wolitzer-2224_accept_when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-t_441243.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/meg-wolitzer-2224_accept_when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-t_441243.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/meg-wolitzer-2224_accept_when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-t_441243.jpg) > “When I wrote 'The Interestings,' I wanted to let time unspool, to give the book the feeling of time passing. I had to allow myself the freedom to move back and forth in time freely, and to trust that readers would accept this.” [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author aimed to let the narrative flow like time, moving freely across periods and trusting readers to follow. **In simple terms:** Let the story move like time, trusting readers. Key Takeaway Embrace fluid storytelling. Themes narrative structure time trust Mood reflective hopeful Type literary creative When to use this quote - novel writing - creative process - editing - reader engagement Key Concepts nonlinear narrative authorial freedom Questions to Reflect On - How can you guide readers through time jumps? - What cues help maintain coherence? A Different Perspective Risk of confusing readers if transitions are unclear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time passing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-passing/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [“You receive the gift of time freely and equally every day, beautifully wrapped in twenty-four new hours to invest in whatever you want, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/you-receive-the-gift-of-time-freely-and-equally-every-day-beautifully/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [“Saying its okay take your time I will wait to someone you love is easy but only you can understand the feeling while that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasvir/saying-its-okay-take-your-time-i-will-wait-to-someone-you-love-is/) Tasvir > [“If you can hear time passing it makes the day last longer. I've come to appreciate a long day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/if-you-can-hear-time-passing-it-makes-the-day-last-longer-i-ve-come/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [“The funny thing about time in the OR, whether you race frenetically or proceed steadily, is that you have no sense of it passing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kalanithi/the-funny-thing-about-time-in-the-or-whether-you-race-frenetically-or/) [Paul Kalanithi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kalanithi/) > [“ David Park is a physicist and philosopher at Williams College in Massachusetts with a lifelong interest in a time which he too thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/david-park-is-a-physicist-and-philosopher-at-williams-college-in/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [“There are some things in this world that can be done over, and some that can’t. And time passing is one thing that can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-are-some-things-in-this-world-that-can-be-done-over-and-some/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I don't want to sit on the sidelines and not value the gift of being here. Instead of the idea of time ticking away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/i-don-t-want-to-sit-on-the-sidelines-and-not-value-the-gift-of-being/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [“The air feels sugary and thick, between the coffee steam and the music, and I forget to notice time passing, hours passing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-pearce/the-air-feels-sugary-and-thick-between-the-coffee-steam-and-the-music/) [Jackson Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-pearce/) > [“Love is the beauty of time passing and everything remaining the same between two heart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-edwards/love-is-the-beauty-of-time-passing-and-everything-remaining-the-same/) [Vincent Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-edwards/) > [I think men spend so much time passing for being men. There's a sense among many writers of color that the most invisible figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-think-men-spend-so-much-time-passing-for-being-men-there-s-a-sense/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [There are some moments you'd rather sleep through, pass from point A to point B without awareness of the time passing or the events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wasserman/there-are-some-moments-you-d-rather-sleep-through-pass-from-point-a/) [Robin Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wasserman/) > [“That's all it was, the dream was just Jock and me and the stick and the beach and the sea and the sky and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ninni-holmqvist/that-s-all-it-was-the-dream-was-just-jock-and-me-and-the-stick-and/) [Ninni Holmqvist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ninni-holmqvist/) > [The best thing about time passing is the privilege of running out of it, of watching the wave of mortality break over me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-manguso/the-best-thing-about-time-passing-is-the-privilege-of-running-out-of/) [Sarah Manguso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-manguso/) > [People's opinions don't interfere with me. Ageing gracefully is supposed to mean trying not to hide time passing and just looking a wreck. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-moreau/people-s-opinions-don-t-interfere-with-me-ageing-gracefully-is/) [Jeanne Moreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-moreau/) > [“With the outside world damp and grey, she had the perfect excuse to hide herself away at the cottage again—except this time, instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-grace/with-the-outside-world-damp-and-grey-she-had-the-perfect-excuse-to/) [Melody Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-grace/) ## More by Meg Wolitzer > [New teachers were just a part of life, for a few days after one arrived, squawks of interest were emitted from various corners, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/new-teachers-were-just-a-part-of-life-for-a-few-days-after-one/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“It was exhausting being a schizophrenic, which he was still convinced he was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/it-was-exhausting-being-a-schizophrenic-which-he-was-still-convinced/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I always thought it was the saddest and most devastating ending. How you could have these enormous dreams that never get met. How without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-always-thought-it-was-the-saddest-and-most-devastating-ending-how/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [But clearly life took people and shook them around until finally they were unrecognizable even to those who had once known them well. Still,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/but-clearly-life-took-people-and-shook-them-around-until-finally-they/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I don't write autobiographically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-don-t-write-autobiographically/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“...the Iraq war was the Ishtar of wars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/the-iraq-war-was-the-ishtar-of-wars/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“This was a time of life, she understood, in which you might not know what you were, but that was all right. You judged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/this-was-a-time-of-life-she-understood-in-which-you-might-not-know/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Another spell had been thrust upon her so long ago...She hadn't been able to see it but it was real. Otherwise why would you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/another-spell-had-been-thrust-upon-her-so-long-ago-she-hadn-t-been/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [Even if you yourself were unhappy and anxious, whenever you glimpsed happiness in your child, you suddenly became happy too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/even-if-you-yourself-were-unhappy-and-anxious-whenever-you-glimpsed/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“The world of law was filled with the fallen, but theater wasn't. No one ever "fell back" onto theater. You had to really, really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/the-world-of-law-was-filled-with-the-fallen-but-theater-wasn-t-no-one/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Crema Seamans," Ethan repeated thoughtfully. "It's like a soup made from ... various semens. A medley of semens. It's a flavour of Campbell's soup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/crema-seamans-ethan-repeated-thoughtfully-it-s-like-a-soup-made-from/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [I've always been drawn to writing for young readers. The books that I read growing up remain in my mind very strongly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-writing-for-young-readers-the-books-that-i/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“No one ever told you that in moment of crisis, family was allowed to trump friendship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/no-one-ever-told-you-that-in-moment-of-crisis-family-was-allowed-to/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [You had only one chance for a signature in life, but most people left no impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/you-had-only-one-chance-for-a-signature-in-life-but-most-people-left/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“Part of the beauty of love was that you didn't need to explain it to anyone else. You could refuse to explain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/part-of-the-beauty-of-love-was-that-you-didn-t-need-to-explain-it-to/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) [Explore all 178 Meg Wolitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) ## More Accept quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [The fans can accept a poor performance, but they won't take it when you choose not to put in the effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pep-guardiola/the-fans-can-accept-a-poor-performance-but-they-won-t-take-it-when/) [Pep Guardiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pep-guardiola/) > [“See, I know what they think about me. That I’m some project. And, yeah, I’ll accept their help. But I’m gonna pay my way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsty-eagar/see-i-know-what-they-think-about-me-that-i-m-some-project-and-yeah-i/) [Kirsty Eagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsty-eagar/) > [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/) [Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/) > [Things don't go on forever, and the quicker you accept that change is inevitable, the happier you're gonna be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-anastasio/things-don-t-go-on-forever-and-the-quicker-you-accept-that-change-is/) [Trey Anastasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-anastasio/) > [It's very important to me that people accept me as a transgendered female. But it's ridiculous to a lot of people and I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-arquette/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-people-accept-me-as-a-transgendered/) [Alexis Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-arquette/) > [I've always taken care of myself, and I'm a non-conformist, so I don't accept the negativity that comes with birthdays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-van-dam/i-ve-always-taken-care-of-myself-and-i-m-a-non-conformist-so-i-don-t/) [Rob Van Dam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-van-dam/) > [Not harder than it should be, no. We're about the business, we're about the work. It's all about the work, always. We have fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-fuqua/not-harder-than-it-should-be-no-we-re-about-the-business-we-re-about/) [Antoine Fuqua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-fuqua/) > [I wish I could just accept that I'm not that good and not be shy about the fact that I'm not that professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-gainsbourg/i-wish-i-could-just-accept-that-i-m-not-that-good-and-not-be-shy/) [Charlotte Gainsbourg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-gainsbourg/) > [I cannot accept being silent in the face of injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine-crockett/i-cannot-accept-being-silent-in-the-face-of-injustice/) [Jasmine Crockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine-crockett/) > [“I hope there is less stigma and judgment against working moms and childless career women. All should be acceptable positions and society should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chan-heng-chee/i-hope-there-is-less-stigma-and-judgment-against-working-moms-and/) Chan Heng Chee > [“Of course I can accept you for who you are. You are someone I need to change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-glasbergen/of-course-i-can-accept-you-for-who-you-are-you-are-someone-i-need-to/) [Randy Glasbergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-glasbergen/) > [I can't be that kind of person others want me to be.I know I can't please everybody for just being me But I'm glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/i-can-t-be-that-kind-of-person-others-want-me-to-be-i-know-i-can-t/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [I don't care who you are,Where you from,As long as you love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mks-vibz/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-where-you-from-as-long-as-you-love-me/) [Mks Vibz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mks-vibz/) Browse all 2,963 Accept quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I wrote 'The Interestings,' I wanted to let time unspool, to give the book the feeling of time passing. I had to allow myself the freedom to move back and forth in time freely, and to trust that readers would accept this.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meg Wolitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-to-let-time-unspool-to-give/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accept" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-to-let-time-unspool-to-give/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/meg-wolitzer-2224_accept_when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-t_441243.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/meg-wolitzer-2224_accept_when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-t_441243.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/075/meg-wolitzer-2224_accept_when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-t_441243.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I wrote 'The Interestings,' I wanted to let time unspool, to give the book the feeling of time passing…” — Meg Wolitzer", "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": "Meg Wolitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I wrote 'The Interestings,' I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-to-let-time-unspool-to-give/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/when-i-wrote-the-interestings-i-wanted-to-let-time-unspool-to-give/#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 } } ] } ```