--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do write a lot of prose. It's not…" description: "\"I do write a lot of prose. It's not disciplined enough yet that it's actually become stories, or short stories. The idea of writing a novel seems impos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/pj-harvey-3601_books_i-do-write-a-lot-of-prose-it-s-not-disci_341457.jpg" --- # I do write a lot of prose. It's not disciplined enough yet… ![“I do write a lot of prose. It's not disciplined enough yet that it's actually become stories, or short stories. The idea of writing a novel seems impossible.” quote by PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/pj-harvey-3601_books_i-do-write-a-lot-of-prose-it-s-not-disci_341457.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/pj-harvey-3601_books_i-do-write-a-lot-of-prose-it-s-not-disci_341457.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/pj-harvey-3601_books_i-do-write-a-lot-of-prose-it-s-not-disci_341457.jpg) > “I do write a lot of prose. It's not disciplined enough yet that it's actually become stories, or short stories. The idea of writing a novel seems impossible.” [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer feels their prose lacks narrative structure, making novel writing feel unattainable. **In simple terms:** Prose isn’t yet story-like, so novels seem impossible. Key Takeaway Focus on shaping prose into narrative arcs. Themes writing creativity self‑doubt Mood frustrated determined Type advice reflective When to use this quote - Writing workshops - personal journals - short‑story practice - peer feedback Key Concepts Narrative structure discipline confidence Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a paragraph into a story? - What narrative element feels missing? A Different Perspective Even disciplined prose may still lack compelling plot. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prose/) [Short stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-stories/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm writing a novel about the Syrian war. It will be completely different from my short stories. I have to address my feelings directly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osama-alomar/i-m-writing-a-novel-about-the-syrian-war-it-will-be-completely/) [Osama Alomar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osama-alomar/) > [I was a lot dumber when I was writing the novel. 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Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [With short stories, the story-teller must have a story to tell, not merely some sweet prose to take out for a walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-gold/with-short-stories-the-story-teller-must-have-a-story-to-tell-not/) [Herbert Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-gold/) > [I work on words, mostly, toward them being poetry or short stories, and then some of those become songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-work-on-words-mostly-toward-them-being-poetry-or-short-stories-and-2/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [If writing novels is like planting a forest, then writing short stories is more like planting a garden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/if-writing-novels-is-like-planting-a-forest-then-writing-short/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [The rules seem to be these: If you have written a successful novel, everyone invites you to write short stories. 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They're much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/if-writing-a-novel-is-a-year-s-exile-to-a-foreign-country-writing-a/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) ## More by PJ Harvey > [I feel like I make a soundtrack for the come up, and I feel like there's so many people that's trying to figure out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-feel-like-i-make-a-soundtrack-for-the-come-up-and-i-feel-like-there/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [Like I have to pretend like I'm a male rapper, that I got stacks and we're in the club, and what do I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/like-i-have-to-pretend-like-i-m-a-male-rapper-that-i-got-stacks-and/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I just started writing and writing for people. 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I like things that are made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-like-things-that-are-beaten-up-that-have-lived-a-little-i-like/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [If you want to be good at anything, you have to work hard at it. It doesn't just fall from the sky. I work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/if-you-want-to-be-good-at-anything-you-have-to-work-hard-at-it-it/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I see men come and go, but there'll be one who'll collect my soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-see-men-come-and-go-but-there-ll-be-one-who-ll-collect-my-soul/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [At this point in my life, I'm probably not gonna be able to stop writing because it's gonna help me be able to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/at-this-point-in-my-life-i-m-probably-not-gonna-be-able-to-stop/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I was really influenced by a lot of Disney soundtracks, because that's what I used to watch all the time, and they always put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-was-really-influenced-by-a-lot-of-disney-soundtracks-because-that-s/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I think Ive got a pretty good sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-think-ive-got-a-pretty-good-sense-of-humor/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) > [I never feel that I have to adopt a character. 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