--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing, and especially writing a novel…" description: "\"Writing, and especially writing a novel, where you get to sit in a room by yourself with either a pen and a paper or a computer for a couple of years, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/neil-gaiman-29_book_writing-and-especially-writing-a-novel-w_973704.jpg" --- # Writing, and especially writing a novel, where you get to… ![“Writing, and especially writing a novel, where you get to sit in a room by yourself with either a pen and a paper or a computer for a couple of years, is a very solitary occupation. You can read sales figures - a hundred thousand books sold, half a million books sold - but they are just numbers.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/neil-gaiman-29_book_writing-and-especially-writing-a-novel-w_973704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/neil-gaiman-29_book_writing-and-especially-writing-a-novel-w_973704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8db/neil-gaiman-29_book_writing-and-especially-writing-a-novel-w_973704.jpg) > “Writing, and especially writing a novel, where you get to sit in a room by yourself with either a pen and a paper or a computer for a couple of years, is a very solitary occupation. You can read sales figures - a hundred thousand books sold, half a million books sold - but they are just numbers.” [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 a novel is an intensely solitary pursuit, detached from commercial metrics and focused on personal creation. **In simple terms:** Novel writing is a lonely, personal process. Key Takeaway Embrace solitude for deeper creativity. Themes solitude creativity writing independence Mood reflective introspective Type advice personal creative When to use this quote - writing a novel - freelance projects - long‑term research - personal reflection Key Concepts authorial voice creative process psychology of work Questions to Reflect On - How does solitude affect your creative output? - What strategies sustain motivation over years? A Different Perspective Isolation can limit feedback and motivation, requiring self‑discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Writing is a solitary occupation, and we like it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-maclean/writing-is-a-solitary-occupation-and-we-like-it-that-way/) [Julianne MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-maclean/) > [Writing fiction is a solitary occupation but not really a lonely one. The writer's head is mobbed with characters, images and language, making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilma-wolitzer/writing-fiction-is-a-solitary-occupation-but-not-really-a-lonely-one/) [Hilma Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilma-wolitzer/) > [Well I've been writing books. So that, by its nature, is kind of a solitary occupation. And from time to time I have research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-kennedy/well-i-ve-been-writing-books-so-that-by-its-nature-is-kind-of-a/) [Caroline Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-kennedy/) > [Writing is a solitary occupation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cornwell/writing-is-a-solitary-occupation/) [Bernard Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cornwell/) > [If you write a novel alone you sit and you weave a little narrative. And it's O.K., but it's of no account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-naipaul/if-you-write-a-novel-alone-you-sit-and-you-weave-a-little-narrative/) [V. S. Naipaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-naipaul/) > [“Writing is such a solitary occupation that it takes a long time to build up a group of professional peers with whom you genuinely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/writing-is-such-a-solitary-occupation-that-it-takes-a-long-time-to/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [It's true that it's a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-s-true-that-it-s-a-solitary-occupation-but-you-would-be-surprised/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [“It turned out plant collecting was a solitary occupation. In the past Robert had enjoyed being alone, or so he thought. Actually he had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/it-turned-out-plant-collecting-was-a-solitary-occupation-in-the-past/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [Writing is a solitary occupation; we don't really have any colleagues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pavone/writing-is-a-solitary-occupation-we-don-t-really-have-any-colleagues/) [Chris Pavone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pavone/) > [“Writing is a solitary occupation. Family, friends, and society are natural enemies of the writer. He must be alone, uninterrupted and slightly savage if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessamyn-west/writing-is-a-solitary-occupation-family-friends-and-society-are/) [Jessamyn West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessamyn-west/) > [Writing is, of course, a solitary occupation. But for many writers, myself included, it's through writing that we make certain vital connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/writing-is-of-course-a-solitary-occupation-but-for-many-writers/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [It’s the ability to bring events and characters to a resolution that draws me to writing, especially writing for children. I don’t want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wynne-jones/it-s-the-ability-to-bring-events-and-characters-to-a-resolution-that/) [Tim Wynne-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wynne-jones/) > [Well, in features, and in writing especially, it's often the style of the writer comes in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/well-in-features-and-in-writing-especially-it-s-often-the-style-of/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) > [“One ought not to fall in love with someone by way of their writing. One must be especially careful if the writing is good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-juska/one-ought-not-to-fall-in-love-with-someone-by-way-of-their-writing/) Jane Juska > [People who've written about Abraham Lincoln's writing emphasize how logical he was. His writing was a syllogistic tool. He would say, if A, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/people-who-ve-written-about-abraham-lincoln-s-writing-emphasize-how/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## 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. For some days the needle had been over in the red, occasionally banging jerkily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/like-all-sentient-beings-fat-charlie-had-a-weirdness-quotient-for/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Shadow crawled across the floor to the yellow foam-rubber pad and climbed onto it, pulling the thin blanket over himself, and closed his eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/shadow-crawled-across-the-floor-to-the-yellow-foam-rubber-pad-and/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [ “\[T\]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every-time-another-little-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [So many things to see, people to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/so-many-things-to-see-people-to-do/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. 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. Where you are is nothing and nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/eyes-will-not-see-you-minds-will-not-hold-you-where-you-are-is/) [neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) [Explore all 2,526 Neil Gaiman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More Book 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/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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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/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“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/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing, and especially writing a novel, where you get to sit in a room by yourself with either a pen and a paper or a computer for a couple of years, is a very solitary occupation. 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