--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For such a long time, when you're a…" description: "\"For such a long time, when you're a writer, you really are just writing for yourself, and maybe a few friends. So it's really amazing when your book ge..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cassandra-clare-9_book_for-such-a-long-time-when-you-re-a-write_1598770.jpg" --- # For such a long time, when you're a writer, you really are… ![“For such a long time, when you're a writer, you really are just writing for yourself, and maybe a few friends. So it's really amazing when your book gets out there and more people are reading and responding to it. It really makes the world of the books feel real.” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cassandra-clare-9_book_for-such-a-long-time-when-you-re-a-write_1598770.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cassandra-clare-9_book_for-such-a-long-time-when-you-re-a-write_1598770.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/cassandra-clare-9_book_for-such-a-long-time-when-you-re-a-write_1598770.jpg) > “For such a long time, when you're a writer, you really are just writing for yourself, and maybe a few friends. So it's really amazing when your book gets out there and more people are reading and responding to it. It really makes the world of the books feel real.” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on the transition from writing for oneself to reaching a wider audience, making the literary world feel tangible. **In simple terms:** Writing shifts from private to public impact. Key Takeaway Cherish audience connection and its reality‑checking effect. Themes writing audience validation community Mood grateful reflective Type personal observational When to use this quote - author events - book launches - social media interaction - writing groups Key Concepts self‑expression reader engagement literary ecosystem Questions to Reflect On - How does reader response shape your writing? - What does it mean for a book to feel “real”? A Different Perspective Not all feedback is constructive; balancing personal vision with audience expectations can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Few friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few-friends/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Writing on the subway or anywhere is writing. Maybe it's all just writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zucker/writing-on-the-subway-or-anywhere-is-writing-maybe-it-s-all-just/) [Rachel Zucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zucker/) > [It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-was-books-that-made-me-feel-that-perhaps-i-was-not-completely/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [We live and breathe words. It was books that kept me from taking my own life after I thought I could never love anyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-live-and-breathe-words-it-was-books-that-kept-me-from-taking-my/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We live and breathe words. (...) It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-live-and-breathe-words-it-was-books-that-made-me-feel-that-perhaps-2/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Books are great for if you want to work on the craft of writing for yourself, or, you know, to write novels or indie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-lennon/books-are-great-for-if-you-want-to-work-on-the-craft-of-writing-for/) [Thomas Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-lennon/) > [People who write for reward by way of recognition or monetary gain don't know what they're doing. They're in the category of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/people-who-write-for-reward-by-way-of-recognition-or-monetary-gain/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [ I've quit writing screenplay \[adaptations\]. It's too much work. I don't look at writing a novel as work, because I only have to please… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-ve-quit-writing-screenplay-adaptations-it-s-too-much-work-i-don-t/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do...Try to be better than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/always-dream-and-shoot-higher-than-you-know-you-can-do-try-to-be/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [I think all writers write for an audience. There is no such thing as writing for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/i-think-all-writers-write-for-an-audience-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [I think you become a writer when you stop writing for yourself or your teachers and start thinking about readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi/i-think-you-become-a-writer-when-you-stop-writing-for-yourself-or/) [Avi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi/) > [Being willing is not enough. We must do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/being-willing-is-not-enough-we-must-do/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [“I was actually thinking about writing, maybe," Owen said. "About Charm?" Kiel asked, raising an eyebrow. "No?" Owen said, probably a bit too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-riley/i-was-actually-thinking-about-writing-maybe-owen-said-about-charm/) [James Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-riley/) > [I've been writing since I was maybe seven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-thee-stallion/i-ve-been-writing-since-i-was-maybe-seven/) [Megan Thee Stallion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-thee-stallion/) > [At a young age, I really wanted to make music and make my own sort of thing. I'm sure if it wasn't music, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/at-a-young-age-i-really-wanted-to-make-music-and-make-my-own-sort-of/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I'm constantly writing, maybe a little more than other guys in the band. I find it a very therapeutic thing to do on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-m-constantly-writing-maybe-a-little-more-than-other-guys-in-the/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More Book 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For such a long time, when you're a writer, you really are just writing for yourself, and maybe a few friends. 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