Novelist Quote by Anne Lamott
““No one has expressed it better than a great novelist I heard once on a talk show who said something like "You want to know the price I pay for being a writer? Okay, I'll tell you. I travel by plane a great deal. And I'm usually seated next to some huge businessman who works on files or his laptop computer for a while, and then notices me and asks me what I do. And I say I'm a writer. Then there's always a terrible silence. Then he says eagerly, 'Have you written anything I might have heard of?””
About This Quote
Source Talk Show Interview: Unknown Host, Date Unknown
A writer often faces superficial interest from successful strangers, revealing a gap between fame and genuine curiosity about the work itself.
In simple terms: Writers get shallow questions from successful people.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper conversations about craft.
Themes
creativity
misunderstanding
celebrity
Mood
reflective
slightly amused
Type
observational
conversational
When to use this quote
- networking events
- writing workshops
- public speaking
- media interviews
Key Concepts
authorship
social dynamics
validation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can writers steer conversations toward substance?
- What does this reveal about society’s view of art?
A Different Perspective
Not all successful people value artistic work.
