---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I made a choice that I was not going to…"
description: "\"I made a choice that I was not going to be a pretentious writer.\" — Janet Evanovich"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/janet-evanovich-291_choice_i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to_43834.png"
---

#  I made a choice that I was not going to be a pretentious…

![“I made a choice that I was not going to be a pretentious writer.” quote by Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/janet-evanovich-291_choice_i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to_43834.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/janet-evanovich-291_choice_i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to_43834.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/janet-evanovich-291_choice_i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to_43834.png)

> “I made a choice that I was not going to be a pretentious writer.”

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

## About This Quote

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

The speaker rejects a self‑important literary persona, opting for authenticity over affectation.

**In simple terms:** Reject pretension in writing.

Key Takeaway

Authenticity beats showiness.

Themes

authenticity self‑awareness creative integrity humility personal branding

Mood

determined reflective

Type

personal mantra creative advice

When to use this quote

- starting a novel
- writing a blog post
- crafting a speech
- developing a personal brand

Key Concepts

identity voice literary style

Practical Applications

- creative writing workshops
- self‑help seminars

Questions to Reflect On

- What does pretentiousness look like in my work?
- How can I maintain authenticity under pressure?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Pretentious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretentious/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [I never called myself a writer because it seemed so pretentious - a writer was what somebody else called you, a title bestowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nguyen-viet-thang/i-never-called-myself-a-writer-because-it-seemed-so-pretentious-a/)

[Nguyen Viet Thang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nguyen-viet-thang/)

> [I rang my mother to thank her for giving birth to me and she said, "What choice had I? You were in there, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/i-rang-my-mother-to-thank-her-for-giving-birth-to-me-and-she-said/)

[Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/)

> [“Most of my failures can be ascribed to the fact that I chose that which was ‘easy’ over that which was ‘right’. And while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/most-of-my-failures-can-be-ascribed-to-the-fact-that-i-chose-that/)

[Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/)

> [If I have a choice between putting my kids to bed and going to a party, I'll put my kids to bed. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-macpherson/if-i-have-a-choice-between-putting-my-kids-to-bed-and-going-to-a/)

[Elle Macpherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-macpherson/)

> [Am I happy with the choice? No I'm not. But I'm going to make my choice, and I expect to vote for Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-cuccinelli/am-i-happy-with-the-choice-no-i-m-not-but-i-m-going-to-make-my-choice/)

[Ken Cuccinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-cuccinelli/)

> [Often when you see these Black Widow types, you see from the beginning that they have made a choice of how and who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/often-when-you-see-these-black-widow-types-you-see-from-the-beginning/)

[Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/)

> [School choice is one of the strongest ways we have to educate our children, .. believes in school choice and he is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/school-choice-is-one-of-the-strongest-ways-we-have-to-educate-our/)

[Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/)

> [Now I do have a choice, and I'm not going to do anything I don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/now-i-do-have-a-choice-and-i-m-not-going-to-do-anything-i-don-t-want/)

[John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/)

> [Life imposes things on you that you can't control, but you still have the choice of how you're going to live through this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-dion/life-imposes-things-on-you-that-you-can-t-control-but-you-still-have/)

[Celine Dion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celine-dion/)

> [The idea that we've outgrown ends up limiting us and we have to make a choice about what we're going to do in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/the-idea-that-we-ve-outgrown-ends-up-limiting-us-and-we-have-to-make/)

[Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/)

> [“I know what I look like. I have no choice (…) What am I going to do about it? Stop aging? Disappear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jessica-parker/i-know-what-i-look-like-i-have-no-choice-what-am-i-going-to-do-about/)

[Sarah Jessica Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jessica-parker/)

> [Walking away from the past could be the best choice you ever made, but going back to it could be the worst choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/walking-away-from-the-past-could-be-the-best-choice-you-ever-made-but/)

[Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/)

> [I hope you're making the right choice.. because I'm not going to wait forever time waits for no one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hope-you-re-making-the-right-choice-because-i-m-not-going-to-wait/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [In the cross-over, you get to a point where you realize that you've got all this genetic inheritance, and you've got all this social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/in-the-cross-over-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-realize-that-you-ve/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [That's what is incredible about human beings, is the choice to keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-antonoff/that-s-what-is-incredible-about-human-beings-is-the-choice-to-keep/)

[Jack Antonoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-antonoff/)

## More by Janet Evanovich

> [“His pager beeped, and he looked at the readout. “I have to get back to Deal. Do you have any secret weapons in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/his-pager-beeped-and-he-looked-at-the-readout-i-have-to-get-back-to/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [You gonna take the case?" It's not a case. It's a missing person. Sort of." You're gonna have a devil of a time finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-gonna-take-the-case-it-s-not-a-case-it-s-a-missing-person-sort-of/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“changed expression. Wariness, maybe. I felt a body move so close it was skimming my own, and a warm hand protectively settled at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/changed-expression-wariness-maybe-i-felt-a-body-move-so-close-it-was/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [I need to look like an idiot at least twice a day to keep myself humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-need-to-look-like-an-idiot-at-least-twice-a-day-to-keep-myself/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [Mooner was walking around laying his hands on the cars, divining karma. "this is it", he said, standing by a small khaki-colored jeep."this car…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/mooner-was-walking-around-laying-his-hands-on-the-cars-divining-karma/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“Ranger was waiting. He was dressed in black slacks, a form-fitting black T-shirt, and a black blazer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/ranger-was-waiting-he-was-dressed-in-black-slacks-a-form-fitting/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [I guessed my mother figured if my father got right down to the task of eating he wouldn’t be so inclined to jump up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-guessed-my-mother-figured-if-my-father-got-right-down-to-the-task/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [You can get through very serious and sometimes horrible and sometimes embarrassing and very awkward situations with humor. It gives us a way out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/you-can-get-through-very-serious-and-sometimes-horrible-and-sometimes/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [Way back before the 'Alex Barnaby' series was first published, we were talking with Dark Horse then about making it into a graphic novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/way-back-before-the-alex-barnaby-series-was-first-published-we-were/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“He wears jeans, untucked shirts, and a Glock 19, and he has a big shaggy dog named Bob.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/he-wears-jeans-untucked-shirts-and-a-glock-19-and-he-has-a-big-shaggy/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [I write to entertain. When people read one of my books I want them to finish with a smile on their faces, feeling a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-write-to-entertain-when-people-read-one-of-my-books-i-want-them-to/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“I hate shopping for clothes," Kate said. "I liked when I was in the military and all I needed was camouflage gear." "Shopping can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-hate-shopping-for-clothes-kate-said-i-liked-when-i-was-in-the/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [“I’m told there’s a paint specialist in Denver who does wonderful work,” Judy said. “I’ve started a GoFundMe page for Mr. Murphy.” “That’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-m-told-there-s-a-paint-specialist-in-denver-who-does-wonderful-work/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

> [It's been almost a month since you found a body. I knew you were due." Carl Costanza - Seven Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/it-s-been-almost-a-month-since-you-found-a-body-i-knew-you-were-due/)

[Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

[Explore all 726 Janet Evanovich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/)

## More Choice quotes

> [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/)

[Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/)

> [“That’s all! Now either leave us alone or join us as a father rather than a receiver of sacrifices. You have the choice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/that-s-all-now-either-leave-us-alone-or-join-us-as-a-father-rather/)

[Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/)

> [“In a world of fixed future, there can be no right or wrong. Right and wrong demand freedom of choice, but if each action…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/in-a-world-of-fixed-future-there-can-be-no-right-or-wrong-right-and/)

[Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/)

> [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/)

[Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/)

> [“too—I realized that my only hope was to give up the life that had been, in order to make room for the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-lesser/too-i-realized-that-my-only-hope-was-to-give-up-the-life-that-had/)

[Elizabeth Lesser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-lesser/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

> [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/)

[Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/)

> [“Amazing how a small choice can change your life forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-c-dockens/amazing-how-a-small-choice-can-change-your-life-forever/)

Randy C. Dockens

> [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Since I don't outline my books very much, I feel like sometimes I don't have a choice in what the characters do; they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-todd/since-i-don-t-outline-my-books-very-much-i-feel-like-sometimes-i-don/)

[Anna Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-todd/)

> [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/)

[Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/)

> [Words can only have an effect on you if you choose to listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/words-can-only-have-an-effect-on-you-if-you-choose-to-listen-to-them/)

[Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/)

[Browse all 8,092 Choice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I made a choice that I was not going to be a pretentious writer.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Janet Evanovich"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to-be-a-pretentious-writer/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to-be-a-pretentious-writer/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/janet-evanovich-291_choice_i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to_43834.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/janet-evanovich-291_choice_i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to_43834.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e1b/janet-evanovich-291_choice_i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to_43834.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I made a choice that I was not going to be a pretentious writer.” — Janet Evanovich",
                "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": "Janet Evanovich",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I made a choice that I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to-be-a-pretentious-writer/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-made-a-choice-that-i-was-not-going-to-be-a-pretentious-writer/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
