In Alexander McCall Smith's "Love Over Scotland," the author humorously observes the prevalent trend of novel writing in Edinburgh, suggesting that if you asked around, many locals would claim to be working on a novel. This abundance of writers creates a scarcity of unique characters, leading to a humorous dilemma for potential authors.

The irony lies in the idea that if someone were to create characters who are also authors, their stories would likely reflect the same phenomenon of writing about writing. Thus, the cycle of creativity becomes a self-referential loop, highlighting the challenges and quirks of the literary world.