Writing a Novel is Like Paddling a Bathtub

Posted on March 6, 2011 by Meg Waite Clayton

Just came across this wonderfully funny and true quote in the New York Times Book Review:

“Look, writing a novel is like paddling from Boston to London in a bathtub. Sometimes the damn tub sinks. It’s a wonder that most of them don’t.” – Stephen King

The whole piece is definitely worth reading: “Burn Before Reading.” For my part, I’m somewhere out on the Atlantic, paddling as fast as I can. – Meg

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About Meg Waite Clayton

Meg Waite Clayton is bestselling author of four novels, including THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS and THE WEDNESDAY DAUGHTERS (coming July 30, 2013) www.megwaiteclayton.com
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10 Responses to Writing a Novel is Like Paddling a Bathtub

  1. Mary Walker Baron says:
    March 6, 2011 at 10:50 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this quote and for providing the link to the article. Wow!
    Mary Walker Baron recently posted..What in the World

  2. M Kathy Brown says:
    March 6, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    Thanks, Meg ~
    Love the quote! The article became a bit tedious, a little repetitive, but very enlightening – which means, almost reassuring – as crazy as that may sound. lol
    M Kathy Brown recently posted..Megs She Writer Blogger Ball Redux

  3. Stacey Johnson says:
    March 6, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Thanks for passing this article along, Meg! These stories offer quite a testament for the labour behind those novels that DO make it. Congratulations on your continued success!
    Stacey Johnson recently posted..Some enchanted evening

  4. Flower Patch Farmgirl says:
    March 6, 2011 at 5:19 pm

    Perfect! I’m deep in the throes of my first attempt. Sometimes I’m sure it’s going to grow wings and fly and other times I’m sure it’s just about to sink. (Most times, I think both in the span of just a few hours.)

    I just stumbled on your blog, so I’m off to take a look around!
    Flower Patch Farmgirl recently posted..A Rainy Sail Down Memory Lane

  5. Perri says:
    March 8, 2011 at 8:26 am

    What a wonderful, inspiring article. I love that Chabon wrote snarky comments in his own manuscript. I do that sometimes, too. Usually with good reason.

    Thanks for sharing this.

  6. me says:
    March 8, 2011 at 9:02 am

    I loved that too, Perri!

  7. Kelly Hashway says:
    March 8, 2011 at 9:20 am

    Great quote. Thanks for sharing. I like that you added Google Friend Connect, too. I’m following you now.

  8. Celia says:
    March 13, 2011 at 2:39 am

    Great quote. I love the one by Chabon: “A book itself threatens to kill its author repeatedly during its composition.”
    Celia recently posted..16 Ways to make damn sure you don’t get any writing done

  9. me says:
    March 15, 2011 at 10:58 am

    Thanks, Kelly. And I love that quote, Celia, and have never heard it. Do you know where he said it?

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