--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Authors of so-called 'literary' fiction…" description: "\"Authors of so-called 'literary' fiction insist that action, like plot, is vulgar and unworthy of a true artist. Don't pay any attention to misguided ad..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ec/dean-koontz-118_action_authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-in_3080791.jpg" --- # Authors of so-called 'literary' fiction insist that… ![“Authors of so-called 'literary' fiction insist that action, like plot, is vulgar and unworthy of a true artist. Don't pay any attention to misguided advice of that sort. If you do, you will very likely starve trying to live on your writing income. Besides, the only writers who survive the ages are…” quote by Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ec/dean-koontz-118_action_authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-in_3080791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ec/dean-koontz-118_action_authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-in_3080791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ec/dean-koontz-118_action_authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-in_3080791.jpg) > “Authors of so-called 'literary' fiction insist that action, like plot, is vulgar and unworthy of a true artist. Don't pay any attention to misguided advice of that sort. If you do, you will very likely starve trying to live on your writing income. Besides, the only writers who survive the ages are those who understand the need for action in a novel.” [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advice that literary fiction should avoid action is misguided; action is essential for engaging storytelling and financial viability **In simple terms:** Action is vital for compelling, marketable fiction Key Takeaway Prioritize action in storytelling Themes writing craft career marketability Mood pragmatic inspirational Type advice career When to use this quote - novel planning - career strategy - publishing decisions Key Concepts interview nonfiction advice Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance action with depth? - What risks come from ignoring market demands? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on action may sacrifice depth ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Authors Called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authors-called-5254467/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Called Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-literary-1597319/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Insist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-insist-5254466/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Income](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/income/) [Literary fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-fiction/) [Misguided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misguided/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Plot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plot/) [True artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-artist/) [True artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-artists/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Unworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unworthy/) [Vulgar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vulgar/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-survive-1649046/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) [Fernando Bujones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-bujones/) > [Every artist, true artist, struggles with an overwhelming sense of feeling like you're not worthy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/every-artist-true-artist-struggles-with-an-overwhelming-sense-of/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) > [A true artist does not depend on radio for success. A true fan does not let radio determine what they support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/a-true-artist-does-not-depend-on-radio-for-success-a-true-fan-does/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [“True artists do not create to fish for compliments and praises. They create to express the love they have for their craft.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/true-artists-do-not-create-to-fish-for-compliments-and-praises-they/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [True artists pursue greatness in craft in order to give the Lord the best fruit of the talent He has given them, not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-peacock/true-artists-pursue-greatness-in-craft-in-order-to-give-the-lord-the/) [Charlie Peacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-peacock/) > [“True artists unburden their envies and work toward encouraging amateurs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aniruddha-sastikar/true-artists-unburden-their-envies-and-work-toward-encouraging/) [Aniruddha Sastikar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aniruddha-sastikar/) > [A true artist should have no secrets. On the stage, you must be able to transmit every emotion to the spectator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-pavlova/a-true-artist-should-have-no-secrets-on-the-stage-you-must-be-able-to/) [Anna Pavlova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-pavlova/) > [“True artists know how to cut their subjects open and bleed them onto the canvas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-sedoti/true-artists-know-how-to-cut-their-subjects-open-and-bleed-them-onto/) [Chelsea Sedoti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-sedoti/) > [ Transforming leadership, \[is defined as\] leadership that builds on man's need for meaning, leadership that creates institutional purpose ... he is the value-shaper, the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/transforming-leadership-is-defined-as-leadership-that-builds-on-man-s/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Art was not created as a way to riches. Strive to become a true artist; all else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/art-was-not-created-as-a-way-to-riches-strive-to-become-a-true-artist/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [If you practice for ten years, you may begin to please yourself, after 20 years you may become a performer and please the audience,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-akbar-khan/if-you-practice-for-ten-years-you-may-begin-to-please-yourself-after/) [Ali Akbar Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-akbar-khan/) > [“I've had people come up to me with the strangest interpretations of what my lyrics might mean, and I'm like, "You go! I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/i-ve-had-people-come-up-to-me-with-the-strangest-interpretations-of/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [True artists are prophets. I don't want to be that prophetic in that sense because it's so lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/true-artists-are-prophets-i-don-t-want-to-be-that-prophetic-in-that/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [I see a lot of true artists... then you see them on the cover of Maxim. That's the lowest of low to me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheyenne-kimball/i-see-a-lot-of-true-artists-then-you-see-them-on-the-cover-of-maxim/) [Cheyenne Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheyenne-kimball/) > [ The Nobel Prize comes from outside, it's a social recognition \[reconnaissance\] in a way. And I think a true artist is driven by interior… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/the-nobel-prize-comes-from-outside-it-s-a-social-recognition/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) ## More by Dean Koontz > [“This kind of derangement is emblematic of humankind. Grave faults are said to be only eccentricities, and imperfections are routinely celebrated as mere differences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/this-kind-of-derangement-is-emblematic-of-humankind-grave-faults-are/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [What really holds their marriage together are mutual respect of an awesome depth, a shared sense of humor, faith that they were brought together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/what-really-holds-their-marriage-together-are-mutual-respect-of-an/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Her mother said that three great powers kept the universe going. The first and the strongest was God. Each of the two additional powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/her-mother-said-that-three-great-powers-kept-the-universe-going-the/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“I stopped keeping an eye out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve because, when I was five, my mother told me that Santa was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/i-stopped-keeping-an-eye-out-for-santa-claus-on-christmas-eve-because/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“To one degree or another, I have been happy most of my life, in part because the world has infinite charms if you wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/to-one-degree-or-another-i-have-been-happy-most-of-my-life-in-part/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“This life is just a bootcamp, to test and toughen us, to prepare us for the next life of service in some great adventure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/this-life-is-just-a-bootcamp-to-test-and-toughen-us-to-prepare-us-for/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“A madman should have a madman’s laugh, not the warm chuckle of a favorite uncle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/a-madman-should-have-a-madman-s-laugh-not-the-warm-chuckle-of-a/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Anger was a reliable defense, but one that allowed no chance of final victory. Anger was a medicine but never a cure, briefly numbing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/anger-was-a-reliable-defense-but-one-that-allowed-no-chance-of-final/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Nothing is predetermined for us, and yet all our possible choices are threads in the vast weave of things, so that we have free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/nothing-is-predetermined-for-us-and-yet-all-our-possible-choices-are/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“In fact, time teaches us that the musical score of life oscillates between that of Psycho and that of The Sound of Music, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/in-fact-time-teaches-us-that-the-musical-score-of-life-oscillates/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Some will accuse me of being judgmental. Thank you. And proud of it. You wreck a kid's life, I have no pity for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/some-will-accuse-me-of-being-judgmental-thank-you-and-proud-of-it-you/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Waiting is one of the things that humans beings cannot do well, though it is one of the essential things we must do successfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/waiting-is-one-of-the-things-that-humans-beings-cannot-do-well-though/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“Dogs know we need to give affection as much as they need to receive it. They were the first therapists; they've been in practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/dogs-know-we-need-to-give-affection-as-much-as-they-need-to-receive/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) [Explore all 1,233 Dean Koontz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Authors of so-called 'literary' fiction insist that action, like plot, is vulgar and unworthy of a true artist. Don't pay any attention to misguided advice of that sort. If you do, you will very likely starve trying to live on your writing income. Besides, the only writers who survive the ages are those who understand the need for action in a novel.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dean Koontz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-insist-that-action-like-plot-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-insist-that-action-like-plot-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ec/dean-koontz-118_action_authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-in_3080791.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ec/dean-koontz-118_action_authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-in_3080791.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ec/dean-koontz-118_action_authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-in_3080791.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Authors of so-called 'literary' fiction insist that action, like plot, is vulgar and unworthy of a true…” — Dean Koontz", "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": "Dean Koontz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Authors of so-called 'literary' fiction insist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-insist-that-action-like-plot-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/authors-of-so-called-literary-fiction-insist-that-action-like-plot-is/#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 } } ] } ```