I have never thought of myself as a good writer. Anyone who wants reassurance of that should read one of my first drafts. But I'm one of the world's great rewriters.
James A. MichenerRead
I am always interested in why young people become writers, and from talking with many I have concluded that most do not want to be writers working eight and ten hours a day and accomplishing little; they want to have been writers, garnering the rewards of having completed a best-seller. They aspire to the rewards of writing but not to the travail.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the desire of young aspiring writers for the rewards of success without understanding the hard work that leads to it.
James A. Michener's quote highlights a common phenomenon among young writers who yearn for the glory and accolades of being a successful author, often idealizing the end product of writing a best-seller without recognizing the extensive effort, dedication, and struggle that goes into the writing process itself. It serves as a reminder that the journey to success, especially in creative fields, requires substantial commitment and hard work, rather than merely a desire for the resultant fame and recognition.
Themes
WritingSuccessEffortAspirationReward
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech for aspiring authors, I might quote Michener to emphasize the importance of hard work in writing.
More from James A. Michener
All quotes →Whenever I start a book, I swear it's going to be a short one. But then it's, 'Who was his grandfather? And how did he get there in the first place? And what kind of animals is he chasing?'
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Rampaging horsemen can conquer; only the city can civilize.
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I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody else does is of no concern whatever except as an interesting variation.
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If a man happens to find himself, he has a mansion which he can inhabit with dignity all the days of his life.
James A. MichenerRead
I was brought up in the great tradition of the late nineteenth century: that a writer never complains, never explains and never disdains.
James A. MichenerRead
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