--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every writer's got to pay some attention…" description: "\"Every writer's got to pay some attention, I suppose, to what his critics say because theirs is a reflection of what the audience feels about his work.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/edward-albee-1684_attention_every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention_2748203.png" --- # Every writer's got to pay some attention, I suppose, to… ![“Every writer's got to pay some attention, I suppose, to what his critics say because theirs is a reflection of what the audience feels about his work.” quote by Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/edward-albee-1684_attention_every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention_2748203.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/edward-albee-1684_attention_every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention_2748203.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/edward-albee-1684_attention_every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention_2748203.png) > “Every writer's got to pay some attention, I suppose, to what his critics say because theirs is a reflection of what the audience feels about his work.” [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critics reflect audience feelings, so writers should heed them **In simple terms:** Critics echo audience perception Key Takeaway Listen to criticism for audience insight Themes writing criticism audience Mood analytical pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - author workshops - editing process - marketing strategy Key Concepts feedback loops interpretation reception Questions to Reflect On - How can writers filter useful criticism? - When should writers ignore critics? A Different Perspective Critics may be biased or hostile ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It would have more meaning for me to hear what critics have to say if their values and their ways of living were deeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/it-would-have-more-meaning-for-me-to-hear-what-critics-have-to-say-if/) [Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/) > [Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-sibelius/pay-no-attention-to-what-the-critics-say-a-statue-has-never-been/) [Jean Sibelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-sibelius/) > [The majority of critics, I would say, are people who have no clue what they're talking about and have never been in a wrestling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-reigns/the-majority-of-critics-i-would-say-are-people-who-have-no-clue-what/) [Roman Reigns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-reigns/) > [Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been erected to a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-sibelius/pay-no-attention-to-what-the-critics-say-no-statue-has-ever-been/) [Jean Sibelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-sibelius/) > [I love when people laugh. I love when they cry, I like a story to say something, and I hope the audience feels happier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-mccarey/i-love-when-people-laugh-i-love-when-they-cry-i-like-a-story-to-say/) Leo McCarey > [I always try to tell the story the best possible way. I create the mood for each scene in a way that the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-always-try-to-tell-the-story-the-best-possible-way-i-create-the/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I think that the audience feels a real connection with Zoe Kazan because she's so instantly lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-hunter/i-think-that-the-audience-feels-a-real-connection-with-zoe-kazan/) [Holly Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-hunter/) > [I feel the most connected to my art when it comes from my real life and hopefully the audience feels that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-feel-the-most-connected-to-my-art-when-it-comes-from-my-real-life/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [It doesn't matter what you feel - ultimately, it's what the audience feels. You can finish a scene and think to yourself, 'Oh, God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carey-mulligan/it-doesn-t-matter-what-you-feel-ultimately-it-s-what-the-audience/) [Carey Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carey-mulligan/) > [I think films are about having a good time, so I don't know that there's a message. The message of a film is always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/i-think-films-are-about-having-a-good-time-so-i-don-t-know-that-there/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [As actors, we have to take characters, and we have to feel for them and ultimately become them, and share that on screen so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-butler/as-actors-we-have-to-take-characters-and-we-have-to-feel-for-them-and/) [Ross Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-butler/) > [If the audience feels that we influence the youth, I want them to be inspired by some of the positive characters we play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-khan/if-the-audience-feels-that-we-influence-the-youth-i-want-them-to-be/) [Sara Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-khan/) > [There were times in my career ... when I felt like a trapeze artist doing dangerous somersaults without a net underneath. When you execute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-sills/there-were-times-in-my-career-when-i-felt-like-a-trapeze-artist-doing/) [Beverly Sills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-sills/) > [What makes a good festival, above all, is the audience. It feels disconnected when it's meant to bring in people from elsewhere and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-vaughn/what-makes-a-good-festival-above-all-is-the-audience-it-feels/) [Baron Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-vaughn/) > [Once an audience feels that you trust them like you trust a friend, they do become your friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/signe-baumane/once-an-audience-feels-that-you-trust-them-like-you-trust-a-friend/) [Signe Baumane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/signe-baumane/) ## More by Edward Albee > [School curricula that ignore the arts produce highly educated Barbarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/school-curricula-that-ignore-the-arts-produce-highly-educated/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When a critic sets himself up as an arbiter of morality, a judge of the matter and not the manner of a work, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-a-critic-sets-himself-up-as-an-arbiter-of-morality-a-judge-of/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When people don't like the way a play ends, they're likely to blame the play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-people-don-t-like-the-way-a-play-ends-they-re-likely-to-blame/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [In a democracy you cannot stop public access to that art that will most misinform the people. You cannot stop people from being misinformed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/in-a-democracy-you-cannot-stop-public-access-to-that-art-that-will/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Creativity is magic. Don't examine it too closely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/creativity-is-magic-don-t-examine-it-too-closely/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [When people can't abide things as they are, when they can't abide the present, they do one of two things ... either they ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/when-people-can-t-abide-things-as-they-are-when-they-can-t-abide-the/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [“Lady, you can’t fuck a metaphor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/lady-you-can-t-fuck-a-metaphor/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I write to find out what I'm talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-write-to-find-out-what-i-m-talking-about/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I know playwrights who like to kid themselves into saying that their characters are so well formed that they just take over. They determine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-know-playwrights-who-like-to-kid-themselves-into-saying-that-their/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [The greatest problem with Irish Wolfhounds, though, is that they don't live very long: their great hearts give out. A good deal of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/the-greatest-problem-with-irish-wolfhounds-though-is-that-they-don-t/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Dashed hopes and good intentions. Good, better, best, bested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/dashed-hopes-and-good-intentions-good-better-best-bested/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Writing has got to be an act of discovery…I write to find out what I'm thinking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/writing-has-got-to-be-an-act-of-discovery-i-write-to-find-out-what-i/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [I'm back in fashion again for a while now. But I imagine that three or four years from now I'll be out again. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/i-m-back-in-fashion-again-for-a-while-now-but-i-imagine-that-three-or/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [What people really want in the theater is fantasy involvement and not reality involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/what-people-really-want-in-the-theater-is-fantasy-involvement-and-not/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [Art should never try to be popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/art-should-never-try-to-be-popular/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) [Explore all 216 Edward Albee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every writer's got to pay some attention, I suppose, to what his critics say because theirs is a reflection of what the audience feels about his work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Albee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention-i-suppose-to-what-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention-i-suppose-to-what-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/edward-albee-1684_attention_every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention_2748203.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/edward-albee-1684_attention_every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention_2748203.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/edward-albee-1684_attention_every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention_2748203.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Every writer's got to pay some attention, I suppose, to what his critics say because theirs is a reflection…” — Edward Albee", "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": "Edward Albee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Every writer's got to pay some...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention-i-suppose-to-what-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/every-writer-s-got-to-pay-some-attention-i-suppose-to-what-his/#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 } } ] } ```