Write what is important to you, regardless of fashion or…
““Write what is important to you, regardless of fashion or marketability or anything like that – all those things are so far out of your control that you may as well not think about them. Of course, this may mean you’ll never be published but that’s a risk we all take every single time we set hands to keyboard or pen to paper. For me, if I can sit back at the end of a project and say, ‘yes, I stayed honest, I said what I wanted to say, and I made it sing to the best of my ability’, then I’m happy enough. Of course, if anyone wants to buy the damned thing off me when I’m done, that’s jam I won’t refuse.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Focus on personal integrity over market trends; success measured by honesty and artistic fulfillment
In simple terms: Prioritize honesty over commercial concerns
Create work that reflects your true voice
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- blogging
- academic paper
- personal journal
- self‑published book
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you sacrifice for authenticity?
- How do you balance honesty with audience expectations?
Commercial success may be elusive despite personal satisfaction