--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If anyone asks me whether I like being a…" description: "\"If anyone asks me whether I like being a popular writer, I ask them whether they think I'd rather be an unpopular writer.\" — Barbara Taylor Bradford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_ask-me_if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a_1032807.jpg" --- # If anyone asks me whether I like being a popular writer, I… ![“If anyone asks me whether I like being a popular writer, I ask them whether they think I'd rather be an unpopular writer.” quote by Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_ask-me_if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a_1032807.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_ask-me_if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a_1032807.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_ask-me_if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a_1032807.jpg) > “If anyone asks me whether I like being a popular writer, I ask them whether they think I'd rather be an unpopular writer.” [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prefers obscurity over fame, questioning the value of popularity **In simple terms:** Being unknown may be preferable to being popular Key Takeaway Value substance over fame Themes literature celebrity authorship Mood thoughtful critical Type literary personal When to use this quote - publishing industry - author branding - media interviews - reader expectations Key Concepts Authenticity public perception Questions to Reflect On - Do you think fame compromises integrity? - How does anonymity affect artistic freedom? A Different Perspective Popularity can distract from creative work ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [What's the point in being an unpopular writer? It just doesn't make a lot of sense. For me it doesn't, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-courtenay/what-s-the-point-in-being-an-unpopular-writer-it-just-doesn-t-make-a/) [Bryce Courtenay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-courtenay/) > [I had a very well-respected writer ask me point blank to my face whether it actually mattered to me. Now, without wanting to reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-furyk/i-had-a-very-well-respected-writer-ask-me-point-blank-to-my-face/) [Jim Furyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-furyk/) > [“For some reason, when people meet me and find out I'm a writer they always ask if I write children's books. Um... please don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-m-pillow/for-some-reason-when-people-meet-me-and-find-out-i-m-a-writer-they/) [Michelle M. Pillow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-m-pillow/) > [As a writer you ask yourself to dream while awake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-bender/as-a-writer-you-ask-yourself-to-dream-while-awake/) [Aimee Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-bender/) > [“The job of the writer isn't to answer questions. The job of the writer is to ask the questions for which there are no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-porup/the-job-of-the-writer-isn-t-to-answer-questions-the-job-of-the-writer/) Jens Porup > [The thing about being a writer is that you never have to ask, 'Am I doing something that's worthwhile?' Because even if you fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/the-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-you-never-have-to-ask-am-i/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [“To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said, 'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-winfield-martin/to-find-out-what-a-story-s-really-about-the-librarian-said-you-don-t/) Emily Winfield Martin > [“A writer must ask the tough questions. It’s the only way to get to the heart of the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-winton/a-writer-must-ask-the-tough-questions-it-s-the-only-way-to-get-to-the/) Tom Winton > [I hope I'm not just looked as a writer that is popular but as a writer of literary value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-hope-i-m-not-just-looked-as-a-writer-that-is-popular-but-as-a/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [A popular writer writes about what people think. 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That we are responsible for what we are? For the deeds, both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/once-that-each-of-us-is-the-author-of-our-own-lives-that-we-are/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Mary never made it to the board meeting. Cunning Elizabeth simply arranged for her cousin's tennis instructor to "delay" her for an hour or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/mary-never-made-it-to-the-board-meeting-cunning-elizabeth-simply/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [I will never stop writing. People often ask when I will retire, but I say it's none of their business. Writing defines who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/i-will-never-stop-writing-people-often-ask-when-i-will-retire-but-i/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Sleeping with a man half your age can be exhausting, but if it's too much for him you can always find a younger man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/sleeping-with-a-man-half-your-age-can-be-exhausting-but-if-it-s-too/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“He's half my ex-husband's age, but twice as energetic when we have sex. And twice as grateful afterwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/he-s-half-my-ex-husband-s-age-but-twice-as-energetic-when-we-have-sex/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“The clock in the church tower”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/the-clock-in-the-church-tower/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“tries, and tries very hard, but she doesn’t know what it’s like to be the sole survivor, the only one left of one’s contemporaries.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/tries-and-tries-very-hard-but-she-doesn-t-know-what-it-s-like-to-be/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [She put her hand in his, and he clasped it firmly, knowing he had been waiting for her all his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/she-put-her-hand-in-his-and-he-clasped-it-firmly-knowing-he-had-been/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [What is done can never be undone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/what-is-done-can-never-be-undone/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [A person with taste is merely one who can recognize the greatest beauty in the simplest things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/a-person-with-taste-is-merely-one-who-can-recognize-the-greatest/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [Life always gets harder towards the summit - the cold increases, responsibility increases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/life-always-gets-harder-towards-the-summit-the-cold-increases/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“You can be with a man for twenty years and never really know who he truly is. Then again, you can meet a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/you-can-be-with-a-man-for-twenty-years-and-never-really-know-who-he/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [In my opinion, moderation is a vastly overrated virtue, particularly when applied to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/in-my-opinion-moderation-is-a-vastly-overrated-virtue-particularly/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [“Yes, damn it, I love you! But the bedroom is not the boardroom, Robert. In the boardroom only one person can be in charge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/yes-damn-it-i-love-you-but-the-bedroom-is-not-the-boardroom-robert-in/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) > [Elizabeth was counting on Marco to keep cousin Mary occupied until after the board meeting was over. A piece of cheese might catch a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/elizabeth-was-counting-on-marco-to-keep-cousin-mary-occupied-until/) [Barbara Taylor Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) [Explore all 51 Barbara Taylor Bradford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/) ## More Ask me quotes > [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/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. 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That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/) [Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/) > [I've never asked a girl out in my life, they have to ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-never-asked-a-girl-out-in-my-life-they-have-to-ask-me/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I would do almost anything Tina Fey asks me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-would-do-almost-anything-tina-fey-asks-me-to-do/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [Space Jam is my favorite movie. 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There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) Browse all 1,282 Ask me quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If anyone asks me whether I like being a popular writer, I ask them whether they think I'd rather be an unpopular writer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Taylor Bradford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a-popular-writer-i-ask-them/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ask me" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a-popular-writer-i-ask-them/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_ask-me_if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a_1032807.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_ask-me_if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a_1032807.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/barbara-taylor-bradford-13047_ask-me_if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a_1032807.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If anyone asks me whether I like being a popular writer, I ask them whether they think I'd rather be an…” — Barbara Taylor Bradford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barbara Taylor Bradford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-taylor-bradford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If anyone asks me whether I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a-popular-writer-i-ask-them/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-taylor-bradford/if-anyone-asks-me-whether-i-like-being-a-popular-writer-i-ask-them/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```