---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am always interested in why young…"
description: "\"I am always interested in why young people become writers, and from talking with many I have concluded that most do not want to be writers working eigh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/james-a-michener-1627_eight_i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-peop_2297478.jpg"
---

#  I am always interested in why young people become writers…

![“I am always interested in why young people become writers, and from talking with many I have concluded that most do not want to be writers working eight and ten hours a day and accomplishing little; they want to have been writers, garnering the rewards of having completed a best-seller. They…” quote by James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/james-a-michener-1627_eight_i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-peop_2297478.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/james-a-michener-1627_eight_i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-peop_2297478.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/james-a-michener-1627_eight_i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-peop_2297478.jpg)

> “I am always interested in why young people become writers, and from talking with many I have concluded that most do not want to be writers working eight and ten hours a day and accomplishing little; they want to have been writers, garnering the rewards of having completed a best-seller. They aspire to the rewards of writing but not to the travail.”

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Many aspiring writers chase fame without embracing the hard work and discipline required to actually write.

**In simple terms:** Chasing fame without effort.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the grind of writing.

Themes

ambition creative work reality

Mood

thoughtful realistic

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- writing career
- goal setting
- personal fulfillment

Key Concepts

writer's block career expectations

Questions to Reflect On

- Are you willing to work for your craft?
- What does success mean to you?

A Different Perspective

Hard work may not guarantee success.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rewards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rewards/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/)

## Related quotes

> [Many people who want to be writers don't really want to be writers. They want to have been writers. They wish they had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/many-people-who-want-to-be-writers-don-t-really-want-to-be-writers/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [Even in the midst of love-making, writers are working on the description.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-in-the-midst-of-love-making-writers-are-working-on-the/)

[Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/)

> [People don't want to pay for pitches. They want to see it. If you hear one more time, "Well, that's execution-dependent." Everything's execution-dependent! If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-gordon/people-don-t-want-to-pay-for-pitches-they-want-to-see-it-if-you-hear/)

[Mark Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-gordon/)

> [For writers from working-class families, the making of art is cultural disenfranchisement, for we do not belong in literary circles and our writing rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-miner/for-writers-from-working-class-families-the-making-of-art-is-cultural/)

Valerie Miner

> [“One thing that separates would-be writers from working writers is that the latter know their work will never match their dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-keyes/one-thing-that-separates-would-be-writers-from-working-writers-is/)

[Ralph Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-keyes/)

> [You're often looking at writing from writers who, for the most part, are working in forms that traditionally fit into other genres. But sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-agata/you-re-often-looking-at-writing-from-writers-who-for-the-most-part/)

[John D'Agata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-agata/)

> [Even though I've mostly done movies, TV has developed in such a wonderful way over the past few years in the sense that film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thekla-reuten/even-though-i-ve-mostly-done-movies-tv-has-developed-in-such-a/)

Thekla Reuten

> [I just love working with actors, and I love working with writers, working with designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rapp/i-just-love-working-with-actors-and-i-love-working-with-writers/)

[Adam Rapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rapp/)

> [For many imaginative writers, working for the press is a fact of their life. But it's best not to like it too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/for-many-imaginative-writers-working-for-the-press-is-a-fact-of-their/)

[Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/)

> [Sometimes I work in my office, just reading material, meeting writers, working on scripts. Other times, I'm on location. There's a lot of variety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/sometimes-i-work-in-my-office-just-reading-material-meeting-writers/)

[Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/)

> [What happens is that the experience of writers working together and the idea of creative collaboration is so delightful, but it has been relegated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akiva-goldsman/what-happens-is-that-the-experience-of-writers-working-together-and/)

[Akiva Goldsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akiva-goldsman/)

> [Of course, I don't mean to imply that all writers are working in the deep waters that border on the divine. Most writers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-keck/of-course-i-don-t-mean-to-imply-that-all-writers-are-working-in-the/)

[Kevin Keck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-keck/)

> [Scientists are always the ones who head into the ocean, but I want to take writers and politicians, people who can convey the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hawkes/scientists-are-always-the-ones-who-head-into-the-ocean-but-i-want-to/)

[Graham Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hawkes/)

> [Sinclair Lewis was asked one time to give a talk to class of students about writing. When he got there he asked the class,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/sinclair-lewis-was-asked-one-time-to-give-a-talk-to-class-of-students/)

[Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/)

> [There are many more want-to-be writers out there than good editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/there-are-many-more-want-to-be-writers-out-there-than-good-editors/)

[Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/)

## More by James A. Michener

> [ “\[Very rich people\] with brains make a great effort to hold on to every penny they have while preaching to the general population that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/very-rich-people-with-brains-make-a-great-effort-to-hold-on-to-every/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [A writer can make a fortune in America, but he can't make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/a-writer-can-make-a-fortune-in-america-but-he-can-t-make-a-living/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [As a writer I have persisted in my uncertainty, alternating between novels which could charitably be considered literature and world reporting which by another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/as-a-writer-i-have-persisted-in-my-uncertainty-alternating-between/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [ . . . Luddites were those frenzied traditionalists of the early 19th century who toured \[England\] wrecking new weaving machines on the theory that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/luddites-were-those-frenzied-traditionalists-of-the-early-19th/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [I am terrified of restrictive religious doctrine, having learned from history that when men who adhere to any form of it are in control,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-am-terrified-of-restrictive-religious-doctrine-having-learned-from/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [“This is not a promise, this is not threat, it's just the way it's gonna be!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/this-is-not-a-promise-this-is-not-threat-it-s-just-the-way-it-s-gonna/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [“We went into the night and for the first time in my life I saw the stars hanging low over the desert, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/we-went-into-the-night-and-for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-saw-the/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [The rules seem to be these: If you have written a successful novel, everyone invites you to write short stories. If you have written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/the-rules-seem-to-be-these-if-you-have-written-a-successful-novel/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [“A Roman came to Rabbi Gimzo the Water Carrier, and asked, "What is this study of the law that you Jews engage in?" and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/a-roman-came-to-rabbi-gimzo-the-water-carrier-and-asked-what-is-this/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/if-you-reject-the-food-ignore-the-customs-fear-the-religion-and-avoid/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-think-the-crucial-thing-in-the-writing-career-is-to-find-what-you/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [“The chance emergence of the was nothing. Remember this. But its persistence and patient accumulation of stature were everything. Only by relentless effort did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/the-chance-emergence-of-the-was-nothing-remember-this-but-its/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [During my lifetime I have met dozens of writers and photographers in dozens of different countries. But I have encountered no one who could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/during-my-lifetime-i-have-met-dozens-of-writers-and-photographers-in/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [My work as a naval officer in World War II enabled me to serve on 49 different South Pacific islands so that I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/my-work-as-a-naval-officer-in-world-war-ii-enabled-me-to-serve-on-49/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

> [The sense of belonging is one of the great gifts men get in battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/the-sense-of-belonging-is-one-of-the-great-gifts-men-get-in-battle/)

[James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

[Explore all 220 James A. Michener quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/)

## More Eight quotes

> [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/)

[Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/)

> [The minute you step onstage, you get eight feet taller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-cooper/the-minute-you-step-onstage-you-get-eight-feet-taller/)

[Alice Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-cooper/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/)

[Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/)

> [We got orders to strike the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. We had a task force with the Enterprise. We had two or three cruisers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-ross/we-got-orders-to-strike-the-marshall-and-gilbert-islands-we-had-a/)

[Barney Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-ross/)

> [Cerrone is a great opponent. The guy won eight fights straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-dos-anjos/cerrone-is-a-great-opponent-the-guy-won-eight-fights-straight/)

[Rafael dos Anjos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-dos-anjos/)

> [Ninety-eight percent of the things that come out of my mouth are intended to be harmless or even charming. They're not ever intended to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/ninety-eight-percent-of-the-things-that-come-out-of-my-mouth-are/)

[Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/)

> [The first draft is usually junk. You have to work on it seven to eight times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/the-first-draft-is-usually-junk-you-have-to-work-on-it-seven-to-eight/)

[Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/)

> [I realised I owned eight pink suits, which I did not need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-odudu/i-realised-i-owned-eight-pink-suits-which-i-did-not-need/)

[A. J. Odudu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-odudu/)

> [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [I started a list of things I want to teach my children, and that list is eight points long. The first one is, do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-roth-eisenberg/i-started-a-list-of-things-i-want-to-teach-my-children-and-that-list/)

Tina Roth-Eisenberg

> [There could be some compromise, but I think we have to stick to the provisions of the treaty, and the provisions of the treaty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-santer/there-could-be-some-compromise-but-i-think-we-have-to-stick-to-the/)

[Jacques Santer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-santer/)

> [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/)

[William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/)

> [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/)

[Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/)

> [Even from a really young age I was a huge movie buff - five, six, seven, eight. Just loved movies, but in a more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-strong/even-from-a-really-young-age-i-was-a-huge-movie-buff-five-six-seven/)

[Danny Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-strong/)

Browse all 2,598 Eight quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I am always interested in why young people become writers, and from talking with many I have concluded that most do not want to be writers working eight and ten hours a day and accomplishing little; they want to have been writers, garnering the rewards of having completed a best-seller. They aspire to the rewards of writing but not to the travail.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James A. Michener"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-people-become-writers-and-from/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Eight"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-people-become-writers-and-from/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/james-a-michener-1627_eight_i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-peop_2297478.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/james-a-michener-1627_eight_i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-peop_2297478.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2f/james-a-michener-1627_eight_i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-peop_2297478.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I am always interested in why young people become writers, and from talking with many I have concluded that…” — James A. Michener",
                "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": "James A. Michener",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I am always interested in why...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-people-become-writers-and-from/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-am-always-interested-in-why-young-people-become-writers-and-from/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
