--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is something a little vulgar about…" description: "\"There is something a little vulgar about writing a novel that is too close to the present, too concerned with current events, too eager to critique tec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michelle-dean-7717_books_there-is-something-a-little-vulgar-about_1310476.jpg" --- # There is something a little vulgar about writing a novel… ![“There is something a little vulgar about writing a novel that is too close to the present, too concerned with current events, too eager to critique technological advancements.” quote by Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michelle-dean-7717_books_there-is-something-a-little-vulgar-about_1310476.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michelle-dean-7717_books_there-is-something-a-little-vulgar-about_1310476.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78b/michelle-dean-7717_books_there-is-something-a-little-vulgar-about_1310476.jpg) > “There is something a little vulgar about writing a novel that is too close to the present, too concerned with current events, too eager to critique technological advancements.” [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing overly contemporary novels can feel crass, as they may lack timeless depth and overemphasize current events. **In simple terms:** Too much focus on present can feel shallow. Key Takeaway Balance immediacy with enduring themes. Themes literature timelessness culture Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - book reviews - author interviews - creative workshops Key Concepts novel analysis societal commentary Questions to Reflect On - How do you blend current issues with lasting significance? - What makes a novel feel both timely and timeless? A Different Perspective Avoiding contemporary relevance may alienate modern readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Current events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/current-events/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't see the direct correlation between my personal life and the novel I'm writing until I'm at the end of the novel or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-foos/i-don-t-see-the-direct-correlation-between-my-personal-life-and-the/) [Laurie Foos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-foos/) > [I don't believe that murders can be "solved." I think that this is the big lie of the mystery novel, that you should close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solved-i-think-that-this-is-the/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [The cool thing about Snapchat is you can get a lot of news on there now. There's CNN, ESPN, and I find myself reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/klay-thompson/the-cool-thing-about-snapchat-is-you-can-get-a-lot-of-news-on-there/) [Klay Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/klay-thompson/) > [“This week in live current events: your eyes. All power can be dangerous: Direct or alternating, you, socket to me. Plugged in and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-gottlieb/this-week-in-live-current-events-your-eyes-all-power-can-be-dangerous/) [Daphne Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-gottlieb/) > [If you look at photojournalism, it's largely driven by current events... always chasing a crisis or disaster. I follow a narrative that is much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-burtynsky/if-you-look-at-photojournalism-it-s-largely-driven-by-current-events/) [Edward Burtynsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-burtynsky/) > [Bond is the longest-running franchise ever and there's a reason for that: they are action movies but they are also touched by current events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javier-bardem/bond-is-the-longest-running-franchise-ever-and-there-s-a-reason-for/) [Javier Bardem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javier-bardem/) > [“Remind me," Jubal said to her, "to write a popular article on the compulsive reading of news. The theme will be that most neuroses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/remind-me-jubal-said-to-her-to-write-a-popular-article-on-the/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“To the extent that propaganda is based on current news, it cannot permit time for thought or reflection. A man caught up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/to-the-extent-that-propaganda-is-based-on-current-news-it-cannot/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [I come from a newspaper background, so maybe I'm attuned to current events.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/i-come-from-a-newspaper-background-so-maybe-i-m-attuned-to-current/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [“Because history became his (Keenan's) genuine passion, he tended to see the world in terms of deep historical forces that, in his mind, formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-halberstam/because-history-became-his-keenan-s-genuine-passion-he-tended-to-see/) [David Halberstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-halberstam/) > [I hate recording all the shows for the week in one day, because I want to be able to mention current events and pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-hate-recording-all-the-shows-for-the-week-in-one-day-because-i-want/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“For some politics has become a battle ground that allows them to vent their frustrations, while at the same time hide behind the anonymity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-the-exciting-story-of-cuba/for-some-politics-has-become-a-battle-ground-that-allows-them-to-vent/) [Captain Hank Bracker, The Exciting Story of Cuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-the-exciting-story-of-cuba/) > [“Sadly, racial, ethnic, and cultural hatred and intolerance are not just history, they are current events.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/sadly-racial-ethnic-and-cultural-hatred-and-intolerance-are-not-just/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“Educators and psychologists have a mantra these days: No matter how hectic the schedules of your family members may be, make time to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lythcott-haims/educators-and-psychologists-have-a-mantra-these-days-no-matter-how/) [Julie Lythcott-Haims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lythcott-haims/) > [With comedy, the jokes will come out, and people will see them coming. 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The shame of rote arguments isn't just that they're cliches, though they are, but that they tend to hide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/bad-criticism-recites-rote-arguments-the-shame-of-rote-arguments-isn/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [Research can be a boon to a novelist - there are more things in heaven and Earth than can be dreamt of in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/research-can-be-a-boon-to-a-novelist-there-are-more-things-in-heaven/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [In an age where television is viewed as the best medium to 'tell stories,' narrative often stands in for substance on would-be prestige shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/in-an-age-where-television-is-viewed-as-the-best-medium-to-tell/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [Writing a novel about feminism can be a thankless task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/writing-a-novel-about-feminism-can-be-a-thankless-task/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [Feminists are disappointed in each other a lot, a natural side effect of being involved in a movement, which naturally implies that progress toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/feminists-are-disappointed-in-each-other-a-lot-a-natural-side-effect/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [Hillbilly stereotypes have always made it easier for middle-class whites to presume that racism is the exclusive province of 'that kind' of person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/hillbilly-stereotypes-have-always-made-it-easier-for-middle-class/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) > [Book awards - in America, at least - are not like the Oscars. Awards are not cumulative, and in the case of something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dean/book-awards-in-america-at-least-are-not-like-the-oscars-awards-are/) [Michelle Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) [Explore all 88 Michelle Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dean/) ## 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. 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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. 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