Most writers who are beginners, if they are honest with…
““Most writers who are beginners, if they are honest with themselves, will admit that they are praying for a readership as they begin to write. But it should be the quality of the craft not the audience, that should be the greatest motivating factor. For me, at least, I can declare that when I wrote THINGS FALL APART I couldn't have told anyone the day before it was accepted for publication that anybody was going to read it. There was no guarantee; nobody ever said to me, Go and write this, we will publish it and we will read it; it was just there. But my brother-in-law who was not a particularly voracious reader, told me that he read the novel through the night and it gave him a terrible headache the next morning. And I took that as an encouraging endorsement! The triumph of the written word is often attained when the writer achieves union and trust with the reader, who then becomes ready to be drawn deep into unfamiliar territory, walking in borrowed literary shoes so to speak, toward a deeper understanding of self or society, or of foreign peoples, cultures and situations.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
True motivation comes from craft quality, not audience size; authentic work eventually finds readers.
In simple terms: Focus on craft, not readers.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize quality over fame.
Themes
creativity
authenticity
craftsmanship
Mood
inspirational
reflective
Type
literary
motivational
When to use this quote
- writing a novel
- publishing
- seeking feedback
- building confidence
Key Concepts
literary merit
reader‑writer connection
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your writing?
- How do you handle unknown reception?
A Different Perspective
Success is not guaranteed; rejection is common.