--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One word after another. That's the only…" description: "\"One word after another. That's the only way that novels get written and, short of elves coming in the night and turning your jumbled notes into Chapter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20e/neil-gaiman-29_books_one-word-after-another-that-s-the-only-w_2418280.jpg" --- # One word after another. That's the only way that novels… ![“One word after another. That's the only way that novels get written and, short of elves coming in the night and turning your jumbled notes into Chapter Nine, it's the only way to do it. So keep on keeping on. Write another word and then another.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20e/neil-gaiman-29_books_one-word-after-another-that-s-the-only-w_2418280.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20e/neil-gaiman-29_books_one-word-after-another-that-s-the-only-w_2418280.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20e/neil-gaiman-29_books_one-word-after-another-that-s-the-only-w_2418280.jpg) > “One word after another. That's the only way that novels get written and, short of elves coming in the night and turning your jumbled notes into Chapter Nine, it's the only way to do it. So keep on keeping on. Write another word and then another.” [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is a steady, incremental process; consistent effort creates a novel. **In simple terms:** Write consistently, one word at a time. Key Takeaway Keep writing daily. Themes discipline creativity perseverance Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - authoring a novel - daily journaling - blogging - creative projects Key Concepts incremental writing habit formation Questions to Reflect On - How can you sustain momentum when ideas feel stale? - What rituals help you start each writing session? A Different Perspective Even with consistency, inspiration may wane, requiring deliberate motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Chapters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters/) [Keeping Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeping-write-6110777/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Nine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nine/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novels Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels-written-590365/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-word-237087/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [The first drafts of my novels have all been written in longhand, and then I type them up on my old electric. 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Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-ballard/) > [When someone asks me to list the 10 best novels ever written, I always refuse to answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/when-someone-asks-me-to-list-the-10-best-novels-ever-written-i-always/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [The fact that there are so many weak, poor and boring stories and novels written and published in America has been ascribed by our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/the-fact-that-there-are-so-many-weak-poor-and-boring-stories-and/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“Novels are written—as life is lived—One Day At A Time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-block/novels-are-written-as-life-is-lived-one-day-at-a-time/) [Lawrence Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-block/) > [Good novels are not written by orthodoxy-sniffers, nor by people who are conscience-stricken about their own orthodoxy. 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I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-haig/my-early-novels-were-written-in-quite-a-dark-place-i-stand-by-them/) [Matt Haig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-haig/) > [Good novels are not written, they're rewritten!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/good-novels-are-not-written-they-re-rewritten/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [A lot of first novels are written long before they're actually put down on paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ebert/a-lot-of-first-novels-are-written-long-before-they-re-actually-put/) [Roger Ebert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ebert/) ## More by Neil Gaiman > [“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/) > [“Like all sentient beings, Fat Charlie had a weirdness quotient. 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If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You can tell the date of an old science fiction novel by every word on the page. Nothing dates harder and faster and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-can-tell-the-date-of-an-old-science-fiction-novel-by-every-word/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The quickest way is sometimes the longest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-quickest-way-is-sometimes-the-longest/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“They were spells, spelled with words to make worlds, waiting for me, in the pages of books.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/they-were-spells-spelled-with-words-to-make-worlds-waiting-for-me-in/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Finish what you're writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/finish-what-you-re-writing-whatever-you-have-to-do-to-finish-it/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [What do stars do? They shine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-do-stars-do-they-shine/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“What," asked Mr Croup, "do you want?" "What," asked the Marquis de Carabas, a little more rhetorically, "does anyone want?" "Dead things," suggested Mr…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/what-asked-mr-croup-do-you-want-what-asked-the-marquis-de-carabas-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You get on with your own life. Lettie gave it to you. You just have to grow up and try and be worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-get-on-with-your-own-life-lettie-gave-it-to-you-you-just-have-to/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Eyes will not see you. Minds will not hold you. 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