--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think any writer is a fool if he…" description: "\"I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money. There needs to be some kind of incentive in addition to the project. It all goes together. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/elmore-leonard-3471_action_i-think-any-writer-is-a-fool-if-he-doesn_2328886.jpg" --- # I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for… ![“I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money. There needs to be some kind of incentive in addition to the project. It all goes together. It's fun to sit there and think of characters and get them into action, then be paid for it. I can't believe it when writers tell me 'I don't want…” quote by Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/elmore-leonard-3471_action_i-think-any-writer-is-a-fool-if-he-doesn_2328886.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/elmore-leonard-3471_action_i-think-any-writer-is-a-fool-if-he-doesn_2328886.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/elmore-leonard-3471_action_i-think-any-writer-is-a-fool-if-he-doesn_2328886.jpg) > “I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money. There needs to be some kind of incentive in addition to the project. It all goes together. It's fun to sit there and think of characters and get them into action, then be paid for it. I can't believe it when writers tell me 'I don't want to show my work to anybody'.” [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers need financial motivation alongside creative passion; both are essential for sustainable work. **In simple terms:** Money and passion together drive writing. Key Takeaway Balance profit and art. Themes writing creativity economics Mood pragmatic reflective Type advice professional When to use this quote - freelance writing - novel drafting - screenwriting - content creation Key Concepts incentive theory artistic integrity Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep creative integrity while seeking profit? - What incentives best support writers? A Different Perspective Too much focus on money can stifle authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I think any writer is a fool if he doesn't do it for money. There needs to be some kind of incentive in addition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-think-any-writer-is-a-fool-if-he-doesn-t-do-it-for-money-there/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [My job as the writer is to fool you. Your job as the reader is to see if you can catch me at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/my-job-as-the-writer-is-to-fool-you-your-job-as-the-reader-is-to-see/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [I'm always amazed by writers who tell me they plan everything at the beginning. I feel their writing days must be very bland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/i-m-always-amazed-by-writers-who-tell-me-they-plan-everything-at-the/) [Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/) > [I think I'm attracted to writers who tell us something about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-hynes/i-think-i-m-attracted-to-writers-who-tell-us-something-about-ourselves/) [Garry Hynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-hynes/) > [I believe writers should be able to write about anything - anything - but there is also a sense in which your lived experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/i-believe-writers-should-be-able-to-write-about-anything-anything-but/) [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) > [We should not allow ourselves to believe that writers like Poe have more imagination than those who are content with describing things as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-delacroix/we-should-not-allow-ourselves-to-believe-that-writers-like-poe-have/) [Eugene Delacroix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-delacroix/) > [I believe that writers run out of material, I really do. I believe very strongly in the fact that when the natural time is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/i-believe-that-writers-run-out-of-material-i-really-do-i-believe-very/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [The main thing is to believe writers know what their voices are, and if they are left alone, they will come through with something.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-davis/the-main-thing-is-to-believe-writers-know-what-their-voices-are-and/) [Julia Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-davis/) > [“Sooner or later people believe writers rather than the government.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/sooner-or-later-people-believe-writers-rather-than-the-government/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [“Here’s the truth: You won’t find your voice over time. I don’t believe that writers arrive at this strange destination called “their voice.” I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-joel/here-s-the-truth-you-won-t-find-your-voice-over-time-i-don-t-believe/) [Mitch Joel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-joel/) > [There isn't going to be anyone to tell you what to do most of the time. It has to be your own decision and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/there-isn-t-going-to-be-anyone-to-tell-you-what-to-do-most-of-the/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [“A CEO of a very successful company told him that in the corporate world, to get the kind of high level expertise that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mayer/a-ceo-of-a-very-successful-company-told-him-that-in-the-corporate/) [Bob Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mayer/) > [One would think a writer would be happy here — if a writer is ever happy anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/one-would-think-a-writer-would-be-happy-here-if-a-writer-is-ever/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [I think a writer's job is to provoke questions. I like to think that if someone's read a book of mine, they've had -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-think-a-writer-s-job-is-to-provoke-questions-i-like-to-think-that/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Writers tell more truths, and more lies, than most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/writers-tell-more-truths-and-more-lies-than-most/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) ## More by Elmore Leonard > [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/) > [These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/these-are-rules-i-ve-picked-up-along-the-way-to-help-me-remain/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“There’s something happening here, I know it. It’s right in front of my face, but I just can’t see it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/there-s-something-happening-here-i-know-it-it-s-right-in-front-of-my/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/the-line-of-dialogue-belongs-to-the-character-the-verb-is-the-writer/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“I try to leave out the parts that people skip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-try-to-leave-out-the-parts-that-people-skip/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I have fun writing. I don't make it a chore. I don't have to struggle with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-have-fun-writing-i-don-t-make-it-a-chore-i-don-t-have-to-struggle/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can't allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/if-it-sounds-like-writing-i-rewrite-it-or-if-proper-usage-gets-in-the/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-don-t-think-writers-compete-i-think-they-re-all-doing-separate/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/after-58-years-you-d-think-writing-would-get-easier-it-doesn-t-if-you/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“He saw Harvey and Edgar catch each other's eye as he looked off toward the strains of "Alley Cat," Jesus, hoping they'd rush it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/he-saw-harvey-and-edgar-catch-each-other-s-eye-as-he-looked-off/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I'm not going to write for posterity. I'm going to write to make a buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-m-not-going-to-write-for-posterity-i-m-going-to-write-to-make-a-buck/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“A wife's faithful to her husband, subject to him. It's in the bible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/a-wife-s-faithful-to-her-husband-subject-to-him-it-s-in-the-bible/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Using adverbs is a mortal sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/using-adverbs-is-a-mortal-sin/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Try not to write the parts that people skip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/try-not-to-write-the-parts-that-people-skip/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I want the reader to know what's going on. So there's never a mystery in my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-want-the-reader-to-know-what-s-going-on-so-there-s-never-a-mystery/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) [Explore all 130 Elmore Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## 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. 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