---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm just writing a story that I want to…"
description: "\"I'm just writing a story that I want to read.\" — Jean M. Auel"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/jean-m-auel-9407_books_i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to_912540.png"
---

#  I'm just writing a story that I want to read.

![“I'm just writing a story that I want to read.” quote by Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/jean-m-auel-9407_books_i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to_912540.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/jean-m-auel-9407_books_i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to_912540.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/jean-m-auel-9407_books_i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to_912540.png)

> “I'm just writing a story that I want to read.”

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

## About This Quote

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

Write stories you are eager to read yourself, ensuring authenticity and personal enjoyment.

**In simple terms:** Create what you’d love to read.

Key Takeaway

Write for yourself first.

Themes

creativity writing authenticity passion self‑direction

Mood

reflective enthusiastic

Type

creative inspirational

When to use this quote

- novel drafting
- short story practice
- reading groups
- writing workshops

Key Concepts

storytelling intrinsic motivation personal voice

Questions to Reflect On

- What story would you love to read?
- How does personal desire shape your plot?

A Different Perspective

Personal taste may not match audience demand.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [It's funny: when I go to a school and speak, and when they hear the back story about me, they want to go read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/it-s-funny-when-i-go-to-a-school-and-speak-and-when-they-hear-the/)

[Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/)

> [“I'm about to start reading it again, because what good is a story you only want to read once?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-willingham/i-m-about-to-start-reading-it-again-because-what-good-is-a-story-you/)

[Bill Willingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-willingham/)

> [I started writing to please myself, a story I would like to read, and that is still true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-started-writing-to-please-myself-a-story-i-would-like-to-read-and/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [Write your own story... because you never want to end up just a footnote in somebody else's story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnreyes/write-your-own-story-because-you-never-want-to-end-up-just-a-footnote/)

[JOHNREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnreyes/)

> [As a filmmaker, you have to understand the essence of the book and tell the story you want to see on the screen, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/as-a-filmmaker-you-have-to-understand-the-essence-of-the-book-and/)

[Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/)

> [Tell the story you want to tell, and let it be as long as it needs to be. Worry about marketing it later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-c-wrede/tell-the-story-you-want-to-tell-and-let-it-be-as-long-as-it-needs-to/)

[Patricia C. Wrede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-c-wrede/)

> [Whatever story you want to tell, tell it at the right size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/whatever-story-you-want-to-tell-tell-it-at-the-right-size/)

[Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/)

> [ \[FBI\] philosophy is "Go ahead and make the story you want to make, and hopefully we'll love it." So that's that. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/fbi-philosophy-is-go-ahead-and-make-the-story-you-want-to-make-and/)

[Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/)

> [I'm a news junkie. I generally ad lib it. I find a story I want to key off on, open the mic, drag it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/i-m-a-news-junkie-i-generally-ad-lib-it-i-find-a-story-i-want-to-key/)

[Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/)

> [“Writers of the world, if you’ve got a story, I want to hear it. I promise it will follow me to my last breath.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/writers-of-the-world-if-you-ve-got-a-story-i-want-to-hear-it-i/)

[Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/)

> [“You are part of my story, and I want you to share the same ending I did--that of recovery, redemption, and hope.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-rose-steil/you-are-part-of-my-story-and-i-want-you-to-share-the-same-ending-i/)

[Rachael Rose Steil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-rose-steil/)

> [I don't want to just tell my story - I want to share the experiences, life lessons, and values that have shaped who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/i-don-t-want-to-just-tell-my-story-i-want-to-share-the-experiences/)

[Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/)

> [“Write like you are the last person on earth; like no one will ever read your story. Tell the story YOU want to read!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giuseppe-bianco/write-like-you-are-the-last-person-on-earth-like-no-one-will-ever/)

[Giuseppe Bianco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giuseppe-bianco/)

> [I'm really not opposed to playing anything as long as it's a story that I want to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-really-not-opposed-to-playing-anything-as-long-as-it-s-a-story/)

[Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/)

> [I ask my friend -what is your story?- because I want to give the answer of mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ask-my-friend-what-is-your-story-because-i-want-to-give-the-answer/)

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

## More by Jean M. Auel

> [I probably read 100 times more than I write, but that way when I move my characters through it, I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-probably-read-100-times-more-than-i-write-but-that-way-when-i-move/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [“Ayla, what am I doing wrong?" he asked, standing in front of her, dripping. "It's not you. I'm the one who's doingit wrong." "You're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/ayla-what-am-i-doing-wrong-he-asked-standing-in-front-of-her-dripping/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [Of the two, I would think of my work as closer to Science Fiction than Fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/of-the-two-i-would-think-of-my-work-as-closer-to-science-fiction-than/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [“A person could resist popular belief and stand up for personal principles, and though there may be consequences, not everything would necessarily be lost.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/a-person-could-resist-popular-belief-and-stand-up-for-personal/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [“Children are always a joy, but pain, too. And they all must lead their own lives. Even Mut will let Her children go their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/children-are-always-a-joy-but-pain-too-and-they-all-must-lead-their/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [I can move my characters through it easily, because I understand the background; I've really studied it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-can-move-my-characters-through-it-easily-because-i-understand-the/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [Though my books are written from a historical perspective, I have goon so far back that I am in the realm of prehistorical speculation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/though-my-books-are-written-from-a-historical-perspective-i-have-goon/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [I think of my books as mainstream and that's were most people who read them look for them in book stores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-think-of-my-books-as-mainstream-and-that-s-were-most-people-who/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [She lifted the drooping muzzle with both hands...It was a special embrace saved for special occasions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/she-lifted-the-drooping-muzzle-with-both-hands-it-was-a-special/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [“In a world so empty of human life, there was comfort in the thought that an invisible realm of spirits was aware of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/in-a-world-so-empty-of-human-life-there-was-comfort-in-the-thought/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [Again Creb grunted. It was the usual noncommittal comment used by men when responding to a woman. It carried only enough meaning to indicate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/again-creb-grunted-it-was-the-usual-noncommittal-comment-used-by-men/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [“No podía obligarle a quedarse; sólo podía ayudarle a marcharse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/no-pod-a-obligarle-a-quedarse-s-lo-pod-a-ayudarle-a-marcharse/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [“Ayla loved these moments of solitude. Basking in the sun, feeling relaxed and content, she thought about nothing in particular, except the beautiful day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/ayla-loved-these-moments-of-solitude-basking-in-the-sun-feeling/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [I had an idea for a story about a young woman who was living with people who were different, not just superficially different -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-had-an-idea-for-a-story-about-a-young-woman-who-was-living-with/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

> [I don't write for publishers, certainly not for critics, and not for readers, But I am delighted that so many people have found my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-don-t-write-for-publishers-certainly-not-for-critics-and-not-for/)

[Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

[Explore all 61 Jean M. Auel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/)

## 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

> [“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

> [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": "I'm just writing a story that I want to read.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jean M. Auel"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to-read/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Books"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to-read/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/jean-m-auel-9407_books_i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to_912540.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/jean-m-auel-9407_books_i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to_912540.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c5/jean-m-auel-9407_books_i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to_912540.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm just writing a story that I want to read.” — Jean M. Auel",
                "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": "Jean M. Auel",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm just writing a story that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to-read/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-m-just-writing-a-story-that-i-want-to-read/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
