--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like most new writers, I could only hope…" description: "\"Like most new writers, I could only hope that one day one publisher might agree to publish one of my books; I couldn't imagine several publishers all w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/emma-healey-14595_books_like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope_3064561.jpg" --- # Like most new writers, I could only hope that one day one… ![“Like most new writers, I could only hope that one day one publisher might agree to publish one of my books; I couldn't imagine several publishers all wanting to buy the first book I'd written.” quote by Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/emma-healey-14595_books_like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope_3064561.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/emma-healey-14595_books_like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope_3064561.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/emma-healey-14595_books_like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope_3064561.jpg) > “Like most new writers, I could only hope that one day one publisher might agree to publish one of my books; I couldn't imagine several publishers all wanting to buy the first book I'd written.” [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aspiring writers often dream of a publisher finally accepting their work, but the reality of multiple publishers competing for a debut is hard to imagine. **In simple terms:** Writers hope for a publisher; multiple offers seem unlikely. Key Takeaway Believe in your manuscript’s value. Themes writing hope publishing career ambition Mood determined optimistic Type inspirational realistic When to use this quote - submitting manuscripts - seeking agents - building a platform - networking with editors Key Concepts self‑belief market dynamics authorial confidence Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to make your work more attractive to publishers? - How do you handle rejection while staying motivated? A Different Perspective Success may depend on timing and market trends, not just quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree Publish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree-publish-5155632/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-writers-355500/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Publish Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publish-books-673597/) [Publishers Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishers-wanting-5155631/) [Wanting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-hope-2903231/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“To the Scripture writers, hope is the absolute expectation of coming good based on the character of God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mark-comer/to-the-scripture-writers-hope-is-the-absolute-expectation-of-coming/) [John Mark Comer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mark-comer/) > [“But I suspect the reported number of good novels this year is a result of 9/11 and all the other alarums of recent years.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-barry/but-i-suspect-the-reported-number-of-good-novels-this-year-is-a/) [Sebastian Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-barry/) > [I never considered myself a writer. I'm a teacher. In a way, I feel kind of... kind of guilty for all the people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-bloom/i-never-considered-myself-a-writer-i-m-a-teacher-in-a-way-i-feel-kind/) [Allan Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-bloom/) > [I'm not interested in writing for adults. I like them as people! I don't like the way they publish books in that world. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-m-not-interested-in-writing-for-adults-i-like-them-as-people-i-don/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [For seven years I wrote and published my texts on the Internet and no Arab festival invited me and no Arab publishing house wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-blasim/for-seven-years-i-wrote-and-published-my-texts-on-the-internet-and-no/) [Hassan Blasim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-blasim/) > [I work most days and if you work most days and you get at least a page done a day, then at the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/i-work-most-days-and-if-you-work-most-days-and-you-get-at-least-a/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [The expectation was that 'True Confessions' would be my first published book, but that didn't happen. After it was rejected by every publisher in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/the-expectation-was-that-true-confessions-would-be-my-first-published/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [I publish my own books, so there isn't a certain editor I owe the book to at a publishing house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/i-publish-my-own-books-so-there-isn-t-a-certain-editor-i-owe-the-book/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [I work just as much as I always worked. And I can't explain the fact that there have been a series of books coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/i-work-just-as-much-as-i-always-worked-and-i-can-t-explain-the-fact/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [I have a private press. I'm a book artist. I publish books of other authors and artists. I do the illustrating. I set the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-stuart/i-have-a-private-press-i-m-a-book-artist-i-publish-books-of-other/) [Gloria Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-stuart/) > [I don't publish the books to make money, not at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sotos/i-don-t-publish-the-books-to-make-money-not-at-all/) [Peter Sotos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sotos/) > [If you want to publish two books a year under your own name and your publisher doesn't, maybe you need a different publisher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/if-you-want-to-publish-two-books-a-year-under-your-own-name-and-your/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [All I'd ever wanted to do in my life was write and publish books, and woe to anyone who stood in my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-blum/all-i-d-ever-wanted-to-do-in-my-life-was-write-and-publish-books-and/) [Jenna Blum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-blum/) > [I am not scared of anyone. I will write and publish my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taslima-nasrin/i-am-not-scared-of-anyone-i-will-write-and-publish-my-books/) [Taslima Nasrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taslima-nasrin/) > [Our mission, is to publish books on social and cultural issues, including books on law related to those areas. We are not looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-spence/our-mission-is-to-publish-books-on-social-and-cultural-issues/) [Thomas Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-spence/) ## More by Emma Healey > [People always want to give you advice about parenting. People who you've never met before will tell you you're doing something wrong. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/people-always-want-to-give-you-advice-about-parenting-people-who-you/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I used to say I wasn't interested in writing about characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-used-to-say-i-wasn-t-interested-in-writing-about-characters/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I can trace my interest in modern classics to the summer before art college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-can-trace-my-interest-in-modern-classics-to-the-summer-before-art/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I was a 20-something woman living in London and didn't want to write about a 20-something woman living in London! It's an area well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-was-a-20-something-woman-living-in-london-and-didn-t-want-to-write/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [While I was writing 'Elizabeth Is Missing' and struggling with the intricacies of the plot, I told myself the next book would be really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/while-i-was-writing-elizabeth-is-missing-and-struggling-with-the/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I feel like Mills and Boon saved my life. It was a way of not living. I read a lot of other books as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-feel-like-mills-and-boon-saved-my-life-it-was-a-way-of-not-living-i/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I've been surprised that 'Elizabeth is Missing' has been so well received as a crime book. I love mystery stories, and that is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-ve-been-surprised-that-elizabeth-is-missing-has-been-so-well/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [When I was writing my first novel, 'Elizabeth is Missing,' I was writing the only novel I had ever written and writing about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/when-i-was-writing-my-first-novel-elizabeth-is-missing-i-was-writing/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [“My reflection always gives me a shock. I never really believed I would age, and certainly not like this.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/my-reflection-always-gives-me-a-shock-i-never-really-believed-i-would/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [Sometimes people ask, 'If you'd never had a reader, would you carry on writing?' No.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/sometimes-people-ask-if-you-d-never-had-a-reader-would-you-carry-on/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I spend a ridiculous amount on pots, lilacs, and alliums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-spend-a-ridiculous-amount-on-pots-lilacs-and-alliums/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [Several members of my family have, or have had, one form of dementia or another. I really wanted to explore what it might like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/several-members-of-my-family-have-or-have-had-one-form-of-dementia-or/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I love writing dialogue - it's when I really lose myself in my work. I love reading it, too, when it's good and rings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-love-writing-dialogue-it-s-when-i-really-lose-myself-in-my-work-i/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [I think I'm too scatty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-think-i-m-too-scatty/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [When you are in the midst of writing a book, I think it is important to touch base every day. If I wasn't writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/when-you-are-in-the-midst-of-writing-a-book-i-think-it-is-important/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) [Explore all 46 Emma Healey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) ## More Books 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/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [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/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [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/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [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/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like most new writers, I could only hope that one day one publisher might agree to publish one of my books; I couldn't imagine several publishers all wanting to buy the first book I'd written.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emma Healey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope-that-one-day-one-publisher/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope-that-one-day-one-publisher/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/emma-healey-14595_books_like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope_3064561.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/emma-healey-14595_books_like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope_3064561.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/emma-healey-14595_books_like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope_3064561.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Like most new writers, I could only hope that one day one publisher might agree to publish one of my books…” — Emma Healey", "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": "Emma Healey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Like most new writers, I could...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope-that-one-day-one-publisher/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/like-most-new-writers-i-could-only-hope-that-one-day-one-publisher/#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 } } ] } ```