--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started publishing stories in small…" description: "\"I started publishing stories in small magazines early on, but after seven or eight or nine years you feel like you need a little more than that to show..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/ben-fountain-3198_effort_i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-ma_298537.png" --- # I started publishing stories in small magazines early on… ![“I started publishing stories in small magazines early on, but after seven or eight or nine years you feel like you need a little more than that to show for your efforts.” quote by Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/ben-fountain-3198_effort_i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-ma_298537.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/ben-fountain-3198_effort_i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-ma_298537.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/ben-fountain-3198_effort_i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-ma_298537.png) > “I started publishing stories in small magazines early on, but after seven or eight or nine years you feel like you need a little more than that to show for your efforts.” [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers may outgrow small publications and seek larger platforms to fully realize their creative efforts. **In simple terms:** Moving beyond small magazines can amplify a writer’s impact. Key Takeaway Seek broader venues for greater creative fulfillment. Themes writing career growth publishing creative ambition Mood reflective determined Type inspirational career guidance When to use this quote - submitting to larger journals - building a literary network - self‑publishing - career workshops Key Concepts literary development platform expansion author visibility Questions to Reflect On - Are you ready for broader critique? - How will you maintain your voice amid larger audiences? A Different Perspective Larger platforms also bring higher competition and rejection risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [The richest most meaningful stories are found in small places: made, carried, crafted, told, and retold by apparently unimportant people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/the-richest-most-meaningful-stories-are-found-in-small-places-made/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [“Stories, like people and butterflies and songbirds' eggs and human hearts and dreams, are also fragile things, made up of nothing stronger or more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/stories-like-people-and-butterflies-and-songbirds-eggs-and-human/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“I have no way of knowing whether you, who eventually will read this record, like stories or not. If you do not, no doubt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/i-have-no-way-of-knowing-whether-you-who-eventually-will-read-this/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [I started publishing my comic while I was still living with my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-tomine/i-started-publishing-my-comic-while-i-was-still-living-with-my-parents/) [Adrian Tomine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-tomine/) > [When I was 16, I started publishing all kinds of things in school magazines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-i-was-16-i-started-publishing-all-kinds-of-things-in-school-2/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [When we started publishing, you had to be better than good. You had to be excellent. But as long as people are reading, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/when-we-started-publishing-you-had-to-be-better-than-good-you-had-to/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [When I started publishing - my first novel came out in 1990 - there were no options for publishing science fiction in Canada. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-sawyer/when-i-started-publishing-my-first-novel-came-out-in-1990-there-were/) [Robert J. Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-sawyer/) > [When I started publishing, I got offers to write for big magazines. But I would always say, "Well, it's not that I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/when-i-started-publishing-i-got-offers-to-write-for-big-magazines-but/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [After I started publishing poetry I got to teach creative writing. Eventually I was promoted and even got tenure. But then I felt compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-larkin/after-i-started-publishing-poetry-i-got-to-teach-creative-writing/) [Joan Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-larkin/) > [Then l learned to play guitar and l started writing songs and my mother formed for me a publishing business, so we started publishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/then-l-learned-to-play-guitar-and-l-started-writing-songs-and-my/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [When I was 16 I started publishing all kinds of things in school magazines. My main feedback came from my English teacher, Miss Bessie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-i-was-16-i-started-publishing-all-kinds-of-things-in-school/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I remember when they started publishing Latino fiction years ago. You had to be really good to get published. Now you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-remember-when-they-started-publishing-latino-fiction-years-ago-you/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [Every 20 years or so, I feel that young people confront the same issues - a new war, new challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/every-20-years-or-so-i-feel-that-young-people-confront-the-same/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [As a kid growing up, I was so in sync as a fan that that served me well through the years. I can feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-michaels/as-a-kid-growing-up-i-was-so-in-sync-as-a-fan-that-that-served-me/) [Al Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-michaels/) > [As a child I'm sure I was no different from any other human being struggling to navigate the difficulties and complexities of their childhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levinson/as-a-child-i-m-sure-i-was-no-different-from-any-other-human-being/) [Sam Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levinson/) ## More by Ben Fountain > [“The singing triggers a soft detonation at his core, molten parts of him are flying everywhere and his ears ring to the tune of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/the-singing-triggers-a-soft-detonation-at-his-core-molten-parts-of/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“Even harder was describing his sense that Shroom’s death might have ruined him for anything else, because when he died? when I felt his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/even-harder-was-describing-his-sense-that-shroom-s-death-might-have/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“Without ever exactly putting his mind to it, he's come to believe that loss is standard trajectory. Something new appears in the world—a baby,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/without-ever-exactly-putting-his-mind-to-it-he-s-come-to-believe-that/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“But I am scared. Everybody's scared." "You know what I mean, like scared scared. Like coward scared, like if you never went to begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/but-i-am-scared-everybody-s-scared-you-know-what-i-mean-like-scared/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“God knows the war sucks, but he sees no great appeal in these tepid peacetime lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/god-knows-the-war-sucks-but-he-sees-no-great-appeal-in-these-tepid/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“What he'd like to say is that he's lived it, if not the entire breadth and depth of the Christian faith then certainly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/what-he-d-like-to-say-is-that-he-s-lived-it-if-not-the-entire-breadth/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [By the end of the first decade of writing, I considered myself a confirmed failure in the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/by-the-end-of-the-first-decade-of-writing-i-considered-myself-a/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“I think sometimes nothing is better than something. I mean, I’d rather have nothing than let this guy use me like his bitch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/i-think-sometimes-nothing-is-better-than-something-i-mean-i-d-rather/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“No it was my choice. It's what I wanted to do. And I knew they'd probably send me to Iraq. It's not like anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/no-it-was-my-choice-it-s-what-i-wanted-to-do-and-i-knew-they-d/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [It's amazing what happens when you stick yourself in a place and let things take their more or less natural course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/it-s-amazing-what-happens-when-you-stick-yourself-in-a-place-and-let/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“As if sorrow is the true reality? Without ever putting his mind to it, he's come to believe that loss is the standard trajectory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/as-if-sorrow-is-the-true-reality-without-ever-putting-his-mind-to-it/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [If you want to see a bunch of happy Americans, go out to opening day at any baseball stadium in the land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/if-you-want-to-see-a-bunch-of-happy-americans-go-out-to-opening-day/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [There was no such thing as perfection in this world, only moments of such extreme transparency that you forgot yourself, a holy mercy if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/there-was-no-such-thing-as-perfection-in-this-world-only-moments-of/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [“He decides he wants both more and less. He’d like to hang out with Beyonce in a nice way, get to know her by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/he-decides-he-wants-both-more-and-less-he-d-like-to-hang-out-with/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) > [Late bloomer' is another way of saying 'slow learner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/late-bloomer-is-another-way-of-saying-slow-learner/) [Ben Fountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) [Explore all 127 Ben Fountain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/) ## More Effort quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [Now I try to make efforts, you know, I'm just, the best effort I can do is just stay sober myself. I can at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/now-i-try-to-make-efforts-you-know-i-m-just-the-best-effort-i-can-do/) [Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/) > [Reading counts as partying, even if you're not enjoying it! Even if someone's forcing you to read, you can find a way to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-w-k/reading-counts-as-partying-even-if-you-re-not-enjoying-it-even-if/) [Andrew W.K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-w-k/) > [ Bernie \[Ecclestone\] is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better. Of course. I also do think about our… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-ecclestone/bernie-ecclestone-is-the-commercial-rights-holder-so-the-more/) [Bernie Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-ecclestone/) > [All efforts to render politics aesthetic culminate in one thing: war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/all-efforts-to-render-politics-aesthetic-culminate-in-one-thing-war/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Im tired, tired of putting more effort than you do. Im tired of always having to start the conversation and if I dont, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-tired-tired-of-putting-more-effort-than-you-do-im-tired-of-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is for the superfluous we sweat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/it-is-for-the-superfluous-we-sweat/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I love a pocket. I'm about helping women look as good as possible on the least amount of effort. I want versatility and comfort.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-mccartney/i-love-a-pocket-i-m-about-helping-women-look-as-good-as-possible-on/) [Stella McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-mccartney/) > [I have often spoken of integrity as the most important of these values, realizing that integrity – and personal integrity, at that – is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/verghese-kurien/i-have-often-spoken-of-integrity-as-the-most-important-of-these/) [Verghese Kurien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/verghese-kurien/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ No wonder that Churchill described this effort \[the British codebreakers working at Bletchley Park\] as "Britian"s secret weapon," a weapon far more effective than… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hilton/no-wonder-that-churchill-described-this-effort-the-british/) [Peter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hilton/) > [“Dreams will come true as long as you give some effort towards your goal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayana/dreams-will-come-true-as-long-as-you-give-some-effort-towards-your/) Dayana > [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/) [Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/) [Browse all 8,602 Effort quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started publishing stories in small magazines early on, but after seven or eight or nine years you feel like you need a little more than that to show for your efforts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ben Fountain" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-magazines-early-on-but-after/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Effort" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-magazines-early-on-but-after/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/ben-fountain-3198_effort_i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-ma_298537.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/ben-fountain-3198_effort_i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-ma_298537.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89f/ben-fountain-3198_effort_i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-ma_298537.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started publishing stories in small magazines early on, but after seven or eight or nine years you feel…” — Ben Fountain", "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": "Ben Fountain", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fountain/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started publishing stories in small...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-magazines-early-on-but-after/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fountain/i-started-publishing-stories-in-small-magazines-early-on-but-after/#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 } } ] } ```