--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tell writers to keep reading, reading…" description: "\"I tell writers to keep reading, reading, reading. Read widely and deeply. And I tell them not to give up even after getting rejection letters. And only..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/anita-diament-21135_books_i-tell-writers-to-keep-reading-reading-r_917233.jpg" --- # I tell writers to keep reading, reading, reading. Read… ![“I tell writers to keep reading, reading, reading. Read widely and deeply. And I tell them not to give up even after getting rejection letters. And only write what you love.” quote by Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/anita-diament-21135_books_i-tell-writers-to-keep-reading-reading-r_917233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/anita-diament-21135_books_i-tell-writers-to-keep-reading-reading-r_917233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04f/anita-diament-21135_books_i-tell-writers-to-keep-reading-reading-r_917233.jpg) > “I tell writers to keep reading, reading, reading. Read widely and deeply. And I tell them not to give up even after getting rejection letters. And only write what you love.” [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers should read extensively, persist despite rejections, and focus on passion projects. **In simple terms:** Read a, keep trying, write what you love. Key Takeaway Read widely, persevere, follow passion. Themes writing reading resilience passion Mood encouraging determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - author workshops - submission cycles - creative blocks - career development Key Concepts literature growth mindset creative process Questions to Reflect On - What genre excites you most? - How do you handle rejection? A Different Perspective Reading alone doesn't guarantee success; market forces matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Not giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-giving-up/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Rejection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejection/) [Writers reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-reading/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Write what you love. Love will hold you through the hard times and hold the world during the good times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-z-danielewski/write-what-you-love-love-will-hold-you-through-the-hard-times-and/) [Mark Z. Danielewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-z-danielewski/) > [And write what you love - don't feel pressured to write serious prose if what you like is to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-write-what-you-love-don-t-feel-pressured-to-write-serious-prose/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I tell people you should write what you love to read because that's where your passion is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-thor/i-tell-people-you-should-write-what-you-love-to-read-because-that-s/) [Brad Thor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-thor/) > [Just write what you love and what a movie you'd like to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-blumberg/just-write-what-you-love-and-what-a-movie-you-d-like-to-see/) Stuart Blumberg > [If what you know and what you love are the same thing, that's great. But if not, write what you love. I love history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-berry/if-what-you-know-and-what-you-love-are-the-same-thing-that-s-great/) [Steve Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-berry/) > [Write what you love and love what you write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/write-what-you-love-and-love-what-you-write/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“Write,” he said. “I’ll write to you as soon as I get there,” answered Julián. “No. Not to me. Write books. Not letters. Write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/write-he-said-i-ll-write-to-you-as-soon-as-i-get-there-answered-juli/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [It is now only in letters I write what I feel: not in literature any more, and I seldom say it, because I keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/it-is-now-only-in-letters-i-write-what-i-feel-not-in-literature-any/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Yes, letter writing is antiquated - though there remain a few renegades who still so treasure the luxury of contemplating their lives in letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-frank/yes-letter-writing-is-antiquated-though-there-remain-a-few-renegades/) [Joan Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-frank/) > [Oftentimes, when people write me 4,000-word letters, I write them back and tell them if their problem's that complicated, they probably need a lawyer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/oftentimes-when-people-write-me-4-000-word-letters-i-write-them-back/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [Sometimes the feelings you really mean are found in the letters which you write and never send.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/sometimes-the-feelings-you-really-mean-are-found-in-the-letters-which/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [“Andy: But they gave us an out in the Land of Oz. They made us write. They didn't make us write particularly well. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-gurney/andy-but-they-gave-us-an-out-in-the-land-of-oz-they-made-us-write/) A.R. Gurney > [“Ferhat came in one evening with a book called Examples of Beautiful Love Letters and How to Write Them. To make sure they took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/ferhat-came-in-one-evening-with-a-book-called-examples-of-beautiful/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [“I don't know what you have against the girl's letter. Its purpose, to make you a bit jealous, it did after all fulfil. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/i-don-t-know-what-you-have-against-the-girl-s-letter-its-purpose-to/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [When I was in elementary school, I used to write letters to myself. I'd write letters and go 'Dear Kristen-at-16-years-old, happy birthday. I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-kreuk/when-i-was-in-elementary-school-i-used-to-write-letters-to-myself-i-d/) [Kristin Kreuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-kreuk/) ## More by Anita Diament > [One of my favorite poets, Neruda, writes close to the bone. Though I know only a little Spanish, I like to compare the Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/one-of-my-favorite-poets-neruda-writes-close-to-the-bone-though-i/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [The Sabbath is a weekly cathedral raised up in my dining room, in my family, in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/the-sabbath-is-a-weekly-cathedral-raised-up-in-my-dining-room-in-my/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [It was one of those perfect fall days when the air is cool enough to wake you up but the sun is also kissing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/it-was-one-of-those-perfect-fall-days-when-the-air-is-cool-enough-to/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [Shakespeare in Love... such smart writing of an alternative view of history, and such beautiful acting. Like most Americans, I'm a sucker for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/shakespeare-in-love-such-smart-writing-of-an-alternative-view-of/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [Right now, I'm Writing song lyrics. Experimenting with a play. Toying with an idea for a documentary. I hope one of these will eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/right-now-i-m-writing-song-lyrics-experimenting-with-a-play-toying/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [My early childhood was spent in Newark, New Jersey, but my family moved to Denver when I was 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/my-early-childhood-was-spent-in-newark-new-jersey-but-my-family-moved/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [I would have stayed forever within the garden of Re-mose's childhood, but time is a mother's enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/i-would-have-stayed-forever-within-the-garden-of-re-mose-s-childhood/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [The Bible - it's sort of the other person in the room. There's this book, the reader, and the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/the-bible-it-s-sort-of-the-other-person-in-the-room-there-s-this-book/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [I got nice rejections explaining that historical fiction was a difficult sell. But I kept trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/i-got-nice-rejections-explaining-that-historical-fiction-was-a/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [The more I do bookstores, the more people come up to me from church groups. I spoke at Pittsburg State College and had 2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/the-more-i-do-bookstores-the-more-people-come-up-to-me-from-church/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [The real Mary Poppins got lost when Hollywood turned her into a cream puff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/the-real-mary-poppins-got-lost-when-hollywood-turned-her-into-a-cream/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [I love many kinds of music: world music, jazz, classical, pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/i-love-many-kinds-of-music-world-music-jazz-classical-pop/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [November is Jewish book month, so Jewish Community Centers all around the country have book fairs where they invite authors and sell books in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/november-is-jewish-book-month-so-jewish-community-centers-all-around/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [Since 1985, I have written about contemporary Jewish practice and the Jewish community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/since-1985-i-have-written-about-contemporary-jewish-practice-and-the/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [It's a good thing babies don't give you a lot of time to think. You fall in love with them and when you realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/it-s-a-good-thing-babies-don-t-give-you-a-lot-of-time-to-think-you/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) [Explore all 29 Anita Diament quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I tell writers to keep reading, reading, reading. Read widely and deeply. And I tell them not to give up even after getting rejection letters. 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