--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Two things a novelist can do with a hat…" description: "\"Two things a novelist can do with a hat: Talk through it or pull a rabbit from it.\" — Peter S. Prescott" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/peter-s-prescott-64064_bunnies_two-things-a-novelist-can-do-with-a-hat_653851.jpg" --- # Two things a novelist can do with a hat: Talk through it… ![“Two things a novelist can do with a hat: Talk through it or pull a rabbit from it.” quote by Peter S. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/peter-s-prescott-64064_bunnies_two-things-a-novelist-can-do-with-a-hat_653851.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/peter-s-prescott-64064_bunnies_two-things-a-novelist-can-do-with-a-hat_653851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/59f/peter-s-prescott-64064_bunnies_two-things-a-novelist-can-do-with-a-hat_653851.jpg) > “Two things a novelist can do with a hat: Talk through it or pull a rabbit from it.” [Peter S. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-prescott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A writer can either use a hat as a narrative device or a source of surprise. **In simple terms:** Writers have creative choices. Key Takeaway Experiment with unconventional tools. Themes creativity literature humor Mood playful witty Type creative inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - stand‑up comedy - teaching writing Key Concepts metaphor storytelling Questions to Reflect On - What ordinary object could become a story catalyst? - How do you balance novelty with substance? A Different Perspective Risk of gimmickry if not grounded in story. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bunnies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunnies/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Hat Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hat-talk-5223146/) [Hats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hats/) [Novelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelist/) [Novelist Hat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelist-hat-5223145/) [Novelists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelists/) [Pull Rabbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pull-rabbit-1776247/) [Rabbits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rabbits/) [Things Novelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-novelist-4531867/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-things/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [If things don't come easy to you, you have to pull a rabbit out of a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/if-things-don-t-come-easy-to-you-you-have-to-pull-a-rabbit-out-of-a/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [Miss Austen had shown the infinite possibilities of ordinary and present things for the novelist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saintsbury/miss-austen-had-shown-the-infinite-possibilities-of-ordinary-and/) [George Saintsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saintsbury/) > [“I've got a system." He reached under a stack on the left corner of his desk, pulled out a file. "It's like the magician's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/i-ve-got-a-system-he-reached-under-a-stack-on-the-left-corner-of-his/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [“Get into that file,” I commanded. “Want me to pull a rabbit out of my ass, too?” he muttered, his tone heavy with sarcasm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/get-into-that-file-i-commanded-want-me-to-pull-a-rabbit-out-of-my-ass/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“I’ve talked to Molina three times today, and he wants me to pull the rabbit out of the hat now”.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-ve-talked-to-molina-three-times-today-and-he-wants-me-to-pull-the/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [If you want to test cosmetics, why do it on some poor animal who hasn't done anything? They should use prisoners who have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/if-you-want-to-test-cosmetics-why-do-it-on-some-poor-animal-who-hasn/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Don't go into Mr. McGregor's garden: your Father had an accident there; he was put in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beatrix-potter/don-t-go-into-mr-mcgregor-s-garden-your-father-had-an-accident-there/) [Beatrix Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beatrix-potter/) > [He nodded nervously. ‘He looks like a magician. I hate magicians. They usually have rabbits.’ I stared at him. ‘You’re scared of bunnies?’ ‘Blah-hah-hah!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-nodded-nervously-he-looks-like-a-magician-i-hate-magicians-they/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Bran was the only person I knew who could use words like "blackguard" and make them sound like swear words-but then he could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/bran-was-the-only-person-i-knew-who-could-use-words-like-blackguard/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I didn't do it,' he insisted. 'Then why did you run?' Sabrina asked. 'And send rabbits to eat us! I'm a seven-year-old girl,' Daphne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buckley/i-didn-t-do-it-he-insisted-then-why-did-you-run-sabrina-asked-and/) [Michael Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buckley/) > [One thing I've learned about vampires--they keep pulling new rabbits out of their cloaks. Big, fanged, carnivorous bunnies that'll eat your eyeballs if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/one-thing-i-ve-learned-about-vampires-they-keep-pulling-new-rabbits/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [In Australia...they celebrate Easter the same...by telling our children a giant bunny rabbit...left chocolate eggs in the night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/in-australia-they-celebrate-easter-the-same-by-telling-our-children-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [... there could be talking bunny rabbits, spiders who write English messages in their webs, and for that matter, melancholy choo-choo trains. There could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/there-could-be-talking-bunny-rabbits-spiders-who-write-english/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) > [I was over in Australia during Easter, which was really interesting. You know, they celebrate Easter the exact same way we do, commemorating the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-was-over-in-australia-during-easter-which-was-really-interesting/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Winston Churchill is always expecting rabbits to come out of an empty hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/winston-churchill-is-always-expecting-rabbits-to-come-out-of-an-empty/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) ## More by Peter S. Prescott > [My advice is to run while you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-prescott/my-advice-is-to-run-while-you-can/) [Peter S. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-prescott/) > [Sociologists are those academic accountants who think that truth can be shaken from an abacus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-prescott/sociologists-are-those-academic-accountants-who-think-that-truth-can/) [Peter S. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-prescott/) > [Let’s hope the institution of marriage survives its detractors, for without it there would be no more adultery and without adultery two thirds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-prescott/let-s-hope-the-institution-of-marriage-survives-its-detractors-for/) [Peter S. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-prescott/) > [Many books today suggest that the mass of women lead lives of noisy desperation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-prescott/many-books-today-suggest-that-the-mass-of-women-lead-lives-of-noisy/) [Peter S. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-prescott/) [Explore all 5 Peter S. Prescott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-prescott/) ## More Bunnies quotes > [Certainly, it is. Love is love, and loss is loss. We all love, and we all die, and everyone suffers the pain of grieving.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynsay-sands/certainly-it-is-love-is-love-and-loss-is-loss-we-all-love-and-we-all/) [Lynsay Sands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynsay-sands/) > [Mr. Bumpy from Bump in the Night was this funky little guy who lived under the bed and thought eating dust bunnies was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/mr-bumpy-from-bump-in-the-night-was-this-funky-little-guy-who-lived/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [What I really love about the Playboy bunny outfit, is it's all about a woman's silhouette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/what-i-really-love-about-the-playboy-bunny-outfit-is-it-s-all-about-a/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [You don’t create a diamond by rubbing it with fluffy bunny slippers. You need to apply pressure and heat. There are enough air-headed cheerleaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-ann-dawson/you-don-t-create-a-diamond-by-rubbing-it-with-fluffy-bunny-slippers/) [Julie Ann Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-ann-dawson/) > [Minister: Welcome, brother! Do you reject Satan and all his works? Bunny Breckinridge: Sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/minister-welcome-brother-do-you-reject-satan-and-all-his-works-bunny/) [Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/) > [In politics, Bugs Bunny always beats Daffy Duck. Daffy's always going berserk, jumping up and down, yelling. Bugs's got that sly smile, like he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/in-politics-bugs-bunny-always-beats-daffy-duck-daffy-s-always-going/) [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) > [If you don't participate, you're just taking up oxygen. (Bunny) Life is a banquet. Approach it with hunger. (Chuck)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/if-you-don-t-participate-you-re-just-taking-up-oxygen-bunny-life-is-a/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [I went through a mod and goth-phase when I decided that I wouldn't ever be the bronzed beach-bunny. I started going as pale as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-went-through-a-mod-and-goth-phase-when-i-decided-that-i-wouldn-t/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [You’ve learned a new rule and it’s simple: don’t put yourself in situations you’d like to run away from. But when you run, run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/you-ve-learned-a-new-rule-and-it-s-simple-don-t-put-yourself-in/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [All Playboy bunnies were constantly reminded that the TV show was Hugh Hefner's show - our contributions were irrelevant. We were the decorative icing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-madison/all-playboy-bunnies-were-constantly-reminded-that-the-tv-show-was/) [Holly Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-madison/) > [If you want to zoom down the expert slope tomorrow, you have to fall down the bunny slope today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-lewis/if-you-want-to-zoom-down-the-expert-slope-tomorrow-you-have-to-fall/) [Cynthia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-lewis/) > [The Easter Bunny is a major reason for heroin addiction in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/the-easter-bunny-is-a-major-reason-for-heroin-addiction-in-america/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [In its purest sense, nicknaming is an elitist ritual practiced by those who cherish hierarchy. For preppies it's a smoke signal that allows Bunny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/in-its-purest-sense-nicknaming-is-an-elitist-ritual-practiced-by/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Everyone loves bunnies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-brown-philpot/everyone-loves-bunnies/) [Stacy Brown-Philpot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-brown-philpot/) > [Maybe I think you're cute and funny. Maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you, if you know what I mean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-michaelson/maybe-i-think-you-re-cute-and-funny-maybe-i-wanna-do-what-bunnies-do/) [Ingrid Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-michaelson/) [Browse all 189 Bunnies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bunnies/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Two things a novelist can do with a hat: Talk through it or pull a rabbit from it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter S. 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