Having the urge to write a novel, especially if you've yet to be published, is like having a medical condition impossible to mention in polite company - it's a relief simply to know there are fellow-sufferers out there.

Robert Harris’s quote humorously compares the urge to write a novel—especially for an unpublished writer—to a medical condition that is difficult to discuss in polite company. He captures the intense, almost obsessive drive to write that many aspiring authors experience, a feeling that can be isolating and often hard to explain to those who don’t share the same passion. The comparison to a medical condition emphasizes how consuming and uncontrollable this urge can feel, as if it’s something that must be dealt with privately, even though it’s a common and shared experience among writers.

Harris further suggests that for those who are not yet published, this creative struggle can be a source of frustration and loneliness. The idea that it’s “impossible to mention in polite company” implies that the desire to write without seeing results might be seen as self-indulgent or impractical by others. It is a condition that writers can commiserate over, but one that may not be fully understood by outsiders. The relief comes when writers find others who share the same internal struggle, creating a sense of solidarity in their journey.

The origin of this quote reflects Harris’s own experience as a novelist, having faced the challenges of writing, being unpublished, and navigating the personal doubts that often come with a writing career. His clever metaphor paints a picture of the often solitary nature of writing and the emotional toll it can take on aspiring authors. By comparing it to a medical condition, he underscores the internal and sometimes overwhelming nature of the writing urge, while also offering a moment of levity.

Ultimately, Harris’s quote conveys both the frustration and the camaraderie that come with the desire to write. It speaks to the universal experience of aspiring writers who struggle with the internal drive to create, yet often find comfort in knowing they are not alone in their struggles. The quote gently captures the tension between the need to write and the social isolation that can accompany the pursuit of a literary career.