--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The author with the greatest influence on…" description: "\"The author with the greatest influence on me is my friend Stephen Harrigan, who critiques everything I write before I even bother to show it to my agen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/elizabeth-crook-23711_agents_the-author-with-the-greatest-influence-o_571662.jpg" --- # The author with the greatest influence on me is my friend… ![“The author with the greatest influence on me is my friend Stephen Harrigan, who critiques everything I write before I even bother to show it to my agent or editor. He's a truly great writer - author of Gates of the Alamo and other books you might know of, and his instincts about what's working in…” quote by Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/elizabeth-crook-23711_agents_the-author-with-the-greatest-influence-o_571662.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/elizabeth-crook-23711_agents_the-author-with-the-greatest-influence-o_571662.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e4/elizabeth-crook-23711_agents_the-author-with-the-greatest-influence-o_571662.jpg) > “The author with the greatest influence on me is my friend Stephen Harrigan, who critiques everything I write before I even bother to show it to my agent or editor. He's a truly great writer - author of Gates of the Alamo and other books you might know of, and his instincts about what's working in a story, and what's not, are just about perfect. My books would be very different without his influence.” [Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A trusted peer provides critical feedback that shapes a writer’s work. **In simple terms:** A friend helps improve writing. Key Takeaway Seek honest critique. Themes collaboration creativity growth Mood reflective motivated Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing process - editing - creative development Key Concepts feedback loops mentorship Questions to Reflect On - Who else can you trust for feedback? - How to balance critique with personal voice? A Different Perspective Reliance on one voice may limit diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Critique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critique/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Great writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writer/) [Great writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writers/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“The rich are different from you and me: they have more influence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/the-rich-are-different-from-you-and-me-they-have-more-influence/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [My greatest influence is Jimi Hendrix, and if he's been reincarnated, or if he's looking down, sideways, or looking up, I just wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/my-greatest-influence-is-jimi-hendrix-and-if-he-s-been-reincarnated/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [He is the greatest influence in the world today. 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I admire her strength, fearlessness, and optimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selah-louise-marley/my-greatest-influence-has-and-always-will-be-my-mother-i-admire-her/) [Selah Louise Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selah-louise-marley/) > [“How do you say goodbye to the person who was the single greatest influence on who you are?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-brookshire/how-do-you-say-goodbye-to-the-person-who-was-the-single-greatest/) [April Brookshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-brookshire/) > [Our best work is done, our greatest influence is exerted, when we are without thought of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/our-best-work-is-done-our-greatest-influence-is-exerted-when-we-are/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [The greatest influence you can have in any situation is to be the presence of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-holden/the-greatest-influence-you-can-have-in-any-situation-is-to-be-the/) [Robert Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-holden/) > [“Maximum benefit in harvesting good karma results from a donation that has the greatest influence on world evolution and human development for the longest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/master-del-pe/maximum-benefit-in-harvesting-good-karma-results-from-a-donation-that/) [Master Del Pe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/master-del-pe/) > [“The greatest influence in writing was G. 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In other books the conflict can be internal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-crook/the-defining-aspects-of-westerns-are-still-pretty-much-in-place/) [Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) > [I'm halfway through a novel set in two time frames - Austin in the 1960's and Alpine (Texas) in present day. It started out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-crook/i-m-halfway-through-a-novel-set-in-two-time-frames-austin-in-the-1960/) [Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) > [Angle of Repose is one of my favorite books. I fell in love with it in college. When I submitted The Night Journal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-crook/angle-of-repose-is-one-of-my-favorite-books-i-fell-in-love-with-it-in/) [Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) > [I think when you're a writer most of what you read influences you. 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The Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-crook/as-for-whether-genre-considerations-influence-what-i-write-they-don-t/) [Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) > [Promised Lands was a better book in my opinion, and it's still my mother's favorite of the three I've done, but I doubt anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-crook/promised-lands-was-a-better-book-in-my-opinion-and-it-s-still-my/) [Elizabeth Crook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) [Explore all 25 Elizabeth Crook quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-crook/) ## More Agents quotes > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. 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