--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, as a beginning novelist, all…" description: "\"For me, as a beginning novelist, all other living writers form a control group for whom the world is a placebo.\" — Nicholson Baker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/nicholson-baker-3405_form_for-me-as-a-beginning-novelist-all-other_814929.png" --- # For me, as a beginning novelist, all other living writers… ![“For me, as a beginning novelist, all other living writers form a control group for whom the world is a placebo.” quote by Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/nicholson-baker-3405_form_for-me-as-a-beginning-novelist-all-other_814929.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/nicholson-baker-3405_form_for-me-as-a-beginning-novelist-all-other_814929.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7f/nicholson-baker-3405_form_for-me-as-a-beginning-novelist-all-other_814929.png) > “For me, as a beginning novelist, all other living writers form a control group for whom the world is a placebo.” [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emerging writers view established authors as a benchmark, treating the literary world as a placebo. **In simple terms:** New writers see others as a standard. Key Takeaway Recognize the influence of literary peers. Themes writing literature influence novelists perception Mood contemplative inspirational thoughtful Type creative literary When to use this quote - writing workshops - reading circles - mentor relationships - self‑analysis Key Concepts literary theory creative process social comparison Questions to Reflect On - How does comparing to peers affect creativity? - What steps can foster a unique voice? A Different Perspective Viewing others as a placebo may limit originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginning Novelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-novelist-307609/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-writers-307611/) [Novelists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelists/) [Placebo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/placebo/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Placebo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-placebo-307610/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You're...writing for other writers to an extent-the dead writers whose work you admire, as well as the living writers you like to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/you-re-writing-for-other-writers-to-an-extent-the-dead-writers-whose/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [Hemingway is great in that alone of living writers he has saturated his work with the memory of physical pleasure, with sunshine and salt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-connolly/hemingway-is-great-in-that-alone-of-living-writers-he-has-saturated/) [Cyril Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-connolly/) > [I lay off a lot modern fiction and only rely on living writers for non-fiction work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-lay-off-a-lot-modern-fiction-and-only-rely-on-living-writers-for/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“To stomach the world for any prolonged length of time, one must either remain a child or become more than a man”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lieber/to-stomach-the-world-for-any-prolonged-length-of-time-one-must-either/) [Michael Lieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lieber/) > [For purposes of marketing, writers are designated as poets, novelists, or something else. 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