In a competitive industry, only paranoid incumbents - those constantly striving for betterment - have any hope of surviving.
Raghuram RajanRead
Writing careers are short. For every 100 writers, 99 never get published. Of those who do, only one in every hundred gets a career out of it, so I count myself as immensely privileged.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the rarity of achieving a successful writing career, highlighting the privilege of being among the few who do.
Jim Crace's quote reflects the harsh reality of the writing profession, where the vast majority of aspiring writers never reach publication, and even fewer achieve a sustainable career. It underscores the competitive nature of writing and the luck and talent required to succeed, while also expressing gratitude for having been one of the fortunate few to make a career in this challenging field.
Themes
WritingSuccessPrivilegeCareerPublication
In practice
Example use cases
During a writing workshop, to inspire authors to persevere despite rejection.
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