--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A novel is challenging, because you have…" description: "\"A novel is challenging, because you have more story than you need and you have to select and narrow.\" — Peter Hedges" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/peter-hedges-5212_because_a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have_2156674.jpg" --- # A novel is challenging, because you have more story than… ![“A novel is challenging, because you have more story than you need and you have to select and narrow.” quote by Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/peter-hedges-5212_because_a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have_2156674.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/peter-hedges-5212_because_a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have_2156674.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/peter-hedges-5212_because_a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have_2156674.jpg) > “A novel is challenging, because you have more story than you need and you have to select and narrow.” [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A novel is challenging because it contains excess story, requiring careful selection and narrowing. **In simple terms:** Writing a novel demands trimming excess. Key Takeaway Focus on core narrative. Themes writing editing focus Mood analytical determined Type instructional creative When to use this quote - drafting chapters - identifying themes - eliminating subplots - refining plot Key Concepts narrative structure creative decision-making Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide what to cut? - What criteria guide story selection? A Different Perspective Risk of losing valuable ideas while cutting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Challenging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenging/) [Challenging Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenging-story-4557899/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel Challenging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-challenging-4557898/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-need-2267990/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“What I need is a new story about who I am. What I need to do is fuck up so bad I can't save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/what-i-need-is-a-new-story-about-who-i-am-what-i-need-to-do-is-fuck/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Not that the story need be long, but it will take a long while to make it short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/not-that-the-story-need-be-long-but-it-will-take-a-long-while-to-make/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [With any good story, you need the adversary, the heroes and villains. You need a good mixture to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-keoghan/with-any-good-story-you-need-the-adversary-the-heroes-and-villains/) [Phil Keoghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-keoghan/) > [It seemed to me at an early age that all human communication - whether it's TV, movies, or books - begins with somebody wanting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-r-mccammon/it-seemed-to-me-at-an-early-age-that-all-human-communication-whether/) [Robert R. McCammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-r-mccammon/) > [“There's a story in all of us. All we need to do is decide how to tell it" -Nicci Sefton”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicci-sefton/there-s-a-story-in-all-of-us-all-we-need-to-do-is-decide-how-to-tell/) [Nicci Sefton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicci-sefton/) > [There really is only one story that you need to tell as a scientist or a technologist. It's Prometheus stealing fire. That's it. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-really-is-only-one-story-that-you-need-to-tell-as-a-scientist/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Authors have to write for their characters, for who they are, that's the strength of books. Don't worry about censors. Just write the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/authors-have-to-write-for-their-characters-for-who-they-are-that-s/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [The rules say that to tell a story you need first of all a measuring stick, a calendar, you have to calculate how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-ferrante/the-rules-say-that-to-tell-a-story-you-need-first-of-all-a-measuring/) [Elena Ferrante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-ferrante/) > [It seems like as soon as you have written something, it dictates a story. So I need to be careful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lindholm/it-seems-like-as-soon-as-you-have-written-something-it-dictates-a/) [Tobias Lindholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lindholm/) > [I've never had the right words to describe my life, and now that I've entered my story, I need them more than ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/i-ve-never-had-the-right-words-to-describe-my-life-and-now-that-i-ve/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [If somebody is in a story, they need to be there for a reason, and not just to set up somebody else's story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/if-somebody-is-in-a-story-they-need-to-be-there-for-a-reason-and-not/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [We, in America, love a story - we need a story to get involved in. But then everything becomes more about how the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/we-in-america-love-a-story-we-need-a-story-to-get-involved-in-but/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [When you make movies, you have to be preoccupied with the social problems, otherwise there is no point in making a movie. To have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-dumont/when-you-make-movies-you-have-to-be-preoccupied-with-the-social/) [Bruno Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-dumont/) > [“I'll accept that in order to unravel my story, I need to be destroyed first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calia-read/i-ll-accept-that-in-order-to-unravel-my-story-i-need-to-be-destroyed/) [Calia Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calia-read/) > [With the adult ones, I feel I need to get as deep inside the psychology of a character as I can, and that needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/with-the-adult-ones-i-feel-i-need-to-get-as-deep-inside-the/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) ## More by Peter Hedges > [There was a part of me that wanted to take my place next to, you know, Debra Granik. She's such a hero for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/there-was-a-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-take-my-place-next-to-you-know/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Ultimately what I try to do is work on stories I love with people I admire, and sometimes they get made and sometimes they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/ultimately-what-i-try-to-do-is-work-on-stories-i-love-with-people-i/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I want to make a series of films of contemporary America that feel urgent and deal with sometimes-topical matters, but hopefully in a universal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-want-to-make-a-series-of-films-of-contemporary-america-that-feel/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Let the story lead you. If the story needs to be dark, let it go dark. If it's a sweet, good-for-the-world story, that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/let-the-story-lead-you-if-the-story-needs-to-be-dark-let-it-go-dark/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [GOOD AS NEW was born out of the idea of writing a play where the stakes were high and the collisions were of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/good-as-new-was-born-out-of-the-idea-of-writing-a-play-where-the/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [There are sections of the film that I don't love. There are moments that really lift and elevate, and then there are parts that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/there-are-sections-of-the-film-that-i-don-t-love-there-are-moments/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I'm looking, often, towards younger people, listening to how they're working, at least they're trying, and some of the old greats, too. Just to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-m-looking-often-towards-younger-people-listening-to-how-they-re/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I don't want to write my life. I live my life. I want to make up a new world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-don-t-want-to-write-my-life-i-live-my-life-i-want-to-make-up-a-new/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [I once heard a story, it's probably apocryphal, but I love the notion. That a car had flipped over and the baby was trapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/i-once-heard-a-story-it-s-probably-apocryphal-but-i-love-the-notion/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [“A man who works all day, every day and loves each apple he uncrates, who cherishes each can of soup - a man like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/a-man-who-works-all-day-every-day-and-loves-each-apple-he-uncrates/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Everything good in my life can be traced back to my mother's sobriety. She showed me that broken people can - with the help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/everything-good-in-my-life-can-be-traced-back-to-my-mother-s-sobriety/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Writing a really good screenplay is not easy. It can be a very punishing form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/writing-a-really-good-screenplay-is-not-easy-it-can-be-a-very/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [It's not easy to be a good or wise parent. You do the best you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/it-s-not-easy-to-be-a-good-or-wise-parent-you-do-the-best-you-can/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [The kinds of movies I make are not easy to get made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/the-kinds-of-movies-i-make-are-not-easy-to-get-made/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [When I was a young lad just out of college at the North Carolina School of the Arts, I directed several plays that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/when-i-was-a-young-lad-just-out-of-college-at-the-north-carolina/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) [Explore all 102 Peter Hedges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I was contacted by Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, MP, through the Pune Film Institute and offered the post in the NFDC. I accepted it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/i-was-contacted-by-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-mp-through-the-pune/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) [Browse all 15,485 Because quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A novel is challenging, because you have more story than you need and you have to select and narrow.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Hedges" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have-more-story-than-you-need-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Because" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have-more-story-than-you-need-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/peter-hedges-5212_because_a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have_2156674.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/peter-hedges-5212_because_a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have_2156674.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/peter-hedges-5212_because_a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have_2156674.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A novel is challenging, because you have more story than you need and you have to select and narrow.” — Peter Hedges", "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": "Peter Hedges", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A novel is challenging, because you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have-more-story-than-you-need-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/a-novel-is-challenging-because-you-have-more-story-than-you-need-and/#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 } } ] } ```