--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The trick to being a novelist is to act…" description: "\"The trick to being a novelist is to act like an iceberg. Make it seem as if you're displaying only one-tenth of what you know, and the other nine-tenth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e73/vikram-seth-4208_act_the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act_1865433.jpg" --- # The trick to being a novelist is to act like an iceberg… ![“The trick to being a novelist is to act like an iceberg. Make it seem as if you're displaying only one-tenth of what you know, and the other nine-tenths isn't visible and never mind if that part is pure styrofoam!” quote by Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e73/vikram-seth-4208_act_the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act_1865433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e73/vikram-seth-4208_act_the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act_1865433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e73/vikram-seth-4208_act_the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act_1865433.jpg) > “The trick to being a novelist is to act like an iceberg. Make it seem as if you're displaying only one-tenth of what you know, and the other nine-tenths isn't visible and never mind if that part is pure styrofoam!” [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author advises writers to reveal only a fraction of their knowledge, keeping much hidden to create depth and intrigue. **In simple terms:** Show only a small part of what you know. Key Takeaway Use restraint to engage readers. Themes writing creativity storytelling literary technique Mood reflective inspirational Type advice literary When to use this quote - novel drafting - editing - creative workshops Key Concepts iceberg theory narrative economy authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - How much should a writer reveal? - When does hidden depth become a flaw? A Different Perspective Over‑hiding can make work feel shallow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Displaying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/displaying/) [Iceberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iceberg/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Novelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelist/) [Trick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trick/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Stress is like an iceberg. We can see one-eighth of it above, but what about whats below.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stress-is-like-an-iceberg-we-can-see-one-eighth-of-it-above-but-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mind is like an iceberg, it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/the-mind-is-like-an-iceberg-it-floats-with-one-seventh-of-its-bulk/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Is it not clear that a reviewer's psyche, like an iceberg, is seven-eighths beneath the surface?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delmore-schwartz/is-it-not-clear-that-a-reviewer-s-psyche-like-an-iceberg-is-seven/) [Delmore Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delmore-schwartz/) > [English life is seventh-eighths below the surface, like an iceberg, and living in England for a year constitutes merely an introduction to an introduction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/english-life-is-seventh-eighths-below-the-surface-like-an-iceberg-and/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [I had to learn that a good actor, like an iceberg, reveals only a small part of his ability on the surface. You suggest;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilli-palmer/i-had-to-learn-that-a-good-actor-like-an-iceberg-reveals-only-a-small/) [Lilli Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilli-palmer/) > [Nine-tenths of our suffering is caused by others not thinking so much of us as we think they ought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lyon/nine-tenths-of-our-suffering-is-caused-by-others-not-thinking-so-much/) Mary Lyon > [I have a whole area in my closet for displaying shoes. They are in rows. But nobody comes in my closet, so they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marano/i-have-a-whole-area-in-my-closet-for-displaying-shoes-they-are-in/) [Laura Marano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marano/) > [I concentrate in my work on preserving and displaying the original flavor from each ingredient in a dish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-ducasse/i-concentrate-in-my-work-on-preserving-and-displaying-the-original/) [Alain Ducasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-ducasse/) > [The most awful museums are in China. They have magnificent stuff on display and just the worst way of displaying it. They just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-erwitt/the-most-awful-museums-are-in-china-they-have-magnificent-stuff-on/) [Elliott Erwitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-erwitt/) > [I am not only overwhelmed with excitement to be back in the seat but also to show my support to help raise awareness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-cope/i-am-not-only-overwhelmed-with-excitement-to-be-back-in-the-seat-but/) [Amber Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-cope/) > [“you seem to be displaying signs of triviality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/you-seem-to-be-displaying-signs-of-triviality/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Earth to Democrats: Displaying contempt for the American people when you are being paid by those people to serve their interests is generally not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/earth-to-democrats-displaying-contempt-for-the-american-people-when/) [Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/) > [A quick glance at the American left reveals a movement in the midst of a nervous breakdown, displaying behavior that goes beyond inconsistency into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-medved/a-quick-glance-at-the-american-left-reveals-a-movement-in-the-midst/) [Michael Medved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-medved/) > [Aside from being bad sportsmanship - Romney basically said Obama won by cheating - he was displaying the same obtuseness about the wants and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/aside-from-being-bad-sportsmanship-romney-basically-said-obama-won-by/) [John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/) > [Candidates should be extremely cautious in displaying a sense of humor. If he or she tells a joke with a point, there is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-germond/candidates-should-be-extremely-cautious-in-displaying-a-sense-of/) [Jack Germond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-germond/) ## More by Vikram Seth > [Realism hasn't fallen out of favor with most people, who are interested in people's lives rather than gymnastics of style or literary trends. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/realism-hasn-t-fallen-out-of-favor-with-most-people-who-are/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think anyone should be banned. If you don't like a book, set it aside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-anyone-should-be-banned-if-you-don-t-like-a-book-set-it/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [It's not the gods But our own hearts We need to fear. The evil starts Against all odds Not there but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/it-s-not-the-gods-but-our-own-hearts-we-need-to-fear-the-evil-starts/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“But what should I do?' Varun was saying. 'I'm not good for anything.' 'Write a book! Pull a rickshaw! Live! Don't make excuses,' said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/but-what-should-i-do-varun-was-saying-i-m-not-good-for-anything-write/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“In a clear brook With joyful haste The whimsical trout Shot past me like an arrow I play the line of the song, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/in-a-clear-brook-with-joyful-haste-the-whimsical-trout-shot-past-me/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Boredom provides a stronger inclination to write than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/boredom-provides-a-stronger-inclination-to-write-than-anything/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [I don't think people give Indian society enough credit. We may not like to talk much about things but we do, basically, want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/i-don-t-think-people-give-indian-society-enough-credit-we-may-not/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [The problem with too beautiful a view is that it's alright for the mulling stage. But for the writing stage, you want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-problem-with-too-beautiful-a-view-is-that-it-s-alright-for-the/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Romantic retrospect aside, the night spent in the truck is distinctly unpleasant. We are cramped and cold. The much-vaunted heating of the truck is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/romantic-retrospect-aside-the-night-spent-in-the-truck-is-distinctly/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Is it not love that knows how to make smooth things rough and rough things smooth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/is-it-not-love-that-knows-how-to-make-smooth-things-rough-and-rough/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Well, what do you think? Avanti?" "Avanti," cries everyone, and, after a few quick re-tunings of our instruments, and re-initialisings of our hearts, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/well-what-do-you-think-avanti-avanti-cries-everyone-and-after-a-few/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Behind every door on every ordinary street, in every hut in every ordinary village in this middling planet of a trivial star, such riches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/behind-every-door-on-every-ordinary-street-in-every-hut-in-every/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“Perhaps it is true that for all the evidence of the mirror, one pictures oneself in some deep niche of the mind as forever 18.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/perhaps-it-is-true-that-for-all-the-evidence-of-the-mirror-one/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [What is the difference between my life and my love? One gets me low, the other lets me go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/what-is-the-difference-between-my-life-and-my-love-one-gets-me-low/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [“The past is the past, and he can't make amends, only hope that the gain will outlast the damage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-past-is-the-past-and-he-can-t-make-amends-only-hope-that-the-gain/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) [Explore all 113 Vikram Seth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) ## More Act quotes > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Teachers' unions don't act in the interest of most teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sal-khan/teachers-unions-don-t-act-in-the-interest-of-most-teachers/) [Sal Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sal-khan/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [“Don’t turn your face away. Once you’ve seen, you can no longer act like you don’t know. Open your eyes to the truth. It’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vashti-quiroz-vega/don-t-turn-your-face-away-once-you-ve-seen-you-can-no-longer-act-like/) Vashti Quiroz-Vega > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [I have no interest in watching myself act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wesley/i-have-no-interest-in-watching-myself-act/) [Paul Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wesley/) > [“Don't wait, just sweat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/don-t-wait-just-sweat/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I do believe some people can naturally act and don't know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-arnold/i-do-believe-some-people-can-naturally-act-and-don-t-know-it/) [Andrea Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-arnold/) > [Regardless of what I do, whether I write a book or whether I act or whether I host, I'll always do stand-up comedy because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-mandel/regardless-of-what-i-do-whether-i-write-a-book-or-whether-i-act-or/) [Howie Mandel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-mandel/) > [On 'Workaholics,' I feel like I'm just hanging out with my buddies being filmed, but on 'Mindy,' I'm around professional funny people who act.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/on-workaholics-i-feel-like-i-m-just-hanging-out-with-my-buddies-being/) [Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/) > [I'm not an artist, and I want to take risks, and when the possibility of failure occurs, it's because the idea is all exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-morgan/i-m-not-an-artist-and-i-want-to-take-risks-and-when-the-possibility/) [Peter Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-morgan/) > [I don't have a huge amount of gear, but on the software side, I have a number of plug-in chains that act as abstracted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hopkins/i-don-t-have-a-huge-amount-of-gear-but-on-the-software-side-i-have-a/) [Jon Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hopkins/) > [I honestly didn't know that I wanted to act until I was probably 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-rae-mayo/i-honestly-didn-t-know-that-i-wanted-to-act-until-i-was-probably-12/) [Miranda Rae Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-rae-mayo/) Browse all 1,802 Act quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The trick to being a novelist is to act like an iceberg. Make it seem as if you're displaying only one-tenth of what you know, and the other nine-tenths isn't visible and never mind if that part is pure styrofoam!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vikram Seth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act-like-an-iceberg-make-it-seem/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Act" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act-like-an-iceberg-make-it-seem/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e73/vikram-seth-4208_act_the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act_1865433.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e73/vikram-seth-4208_act_the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act_1865433.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e73/vikram-seth-4208_act_the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act_1865433.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The trick to being a novelist is to act like an iceberg. Make it seem as if you're displaying only one-tenth…” — Vikram Seth", "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": "Vikram Seth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The trick to being a novelist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act-like-an-iceberg-make-it-seem/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/the-trick-to-being-a-novelist-is-to-act-like-an-iceberg-make-it-seem/#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 } } ] } ```