Books Quote by Ernest Hemingway
““It's this way, see--when a writer first starts out, he gets a big kick from the stuff he does, and the reader doesn't get any;then, after a while, the writer gets a little kick and the reader gets a little kick; and finally, if the writer's any good, he doesn't get any kick at all and the reader gets everything.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The Paris Review, 1959
Initially writers enjoy personal thrill, but over time the reward shifts to the audience, not the author.
In simple terms: Writers start for themselves, end for readers.
Key Takeaway
Write for the reader’s experience.
Themes
writing
audience
growth
Mood
thoughtful
instructive
Type
literary
motivational
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- short story workshops
- publishing
- reader feedback
Key Concepts
Literature
self‑efficacy
Questions to Reflect On
- When does audience focus dilute authenticity?
- How can writers balance self‑satisfaction with reader impact?
A Different Perspective
Risk of losing personal voice.
![“... in nine out of ten cases the original wish to write is the wish to make oneself felt[ellipsis in source] the non-essential writer never gets past that wish.” quote by Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fb0/elizabeth-bowen-1197_cases_in-nine-out-of-ten-cases-the-original-wi_450552.jpg)
