--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The conventional wisdom is that authors…" description: "\"The conventional wisdom is that authors get only one chance in this world. If your first novel doesn't sell, publishers and bookstores lose interest, a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/jeff-giles-18552_books_the-conventional-wisdom-is-that-authors_2880904.jpg" --- # The conventional wisdom is that authors get only one… ![“The conventional wisdom is that authors get only one chance in this world. If your first novel doesn't sell, publishers and bookstores lose interest, and your career stalls, barring an act of God or Oprah.” quote by Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/jeff-giles-18552_books_the-conventional-wisdom-is-that-authors_2880904.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/jeff-giles-18552_books_the-conventional-wisdom-is-that-authors_2880904.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5fc/jeff-giles-18552_books_the-conventional-wisdom-is-that-authors_2880904.jpg) > “The conventional wisdom is that authors get only one chance in this world. If your first novel doesn't sell, publishers and bookstores lose interest, and your career stalls, barring an act of God or Oprah.” [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authors often get only one chance; failure stalls careers unless rescued by fame or luck. **In simple terms:** One chance defines author success. Key Takeaway Diversify publishing paths. Themes career volatility publishing industry author challenges Mood realistic encouraging analytical Type industry career When to use this quote - self‑publishing - agent networking - marketing strategies Key Concepts economics creative risk Questions to Reflect On - How can authors build resilience? - What alternatives exist beyond traditional publishing? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on single success can stifle creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authors Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authors-chance-3991896/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Conventional wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conventional-wisdom/) [Doesn Sell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-sell-614662/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Novel Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-doesn-1522204/) [Sell Publishers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sell-publishers-2992376/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-novel-3320965/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Like a Chinese box, the world of the novel contained smaller worlds, and inside those were yet smaller worlds. Together, these worlds made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/like-a-chinese-box-the-world-of-the-novel-contained-smaller-worlds/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I think it is serious to have good sales. As I learned belatedly, the more you sell, the more publishers pay attention to you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/i-think-it-is-serious-to-have-good-sales-as-i-learned-belatedly-the/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [The novel doesn't come into existence until certain methods of reproducing fiction come along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-fiedler/the-novel-doesn-t-come-into-existence-until-certain-methods-of/) [Leslie Fiedler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-fiedler/) > [“Someone who hasn't read a novel doesn't really know what it's about, William.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/someone-who-hasn-t-read-a-novel-doesn-t-really-know-what-it-s-about/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Film is a medium of clear lines and broad strikes - which can be fantastic - but compared to the subtleties and nuances of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-boyd/film-is-a-medium-of-clear-lines-and-broad-strikes-which-can-be/) [William Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-boyd/) > [“Whatever happens in a romance novel doesn't always have to stay in one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-alexis/whatever-happens-in-a-romance-novel-doesn-t-always-have-to-stay-in-one/) [Renee Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-alexis/) > [Find me a first novel that doesn't have parallels with the author's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-dahl/find-me-a-first-novel-that-doesn-t-have-parallels-with-the-author-s/) [Sophie Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-dahl/) > [It's true that immigrant novels have to do with people going from one country to another, but there isn't a single novel that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hijuelos/it-s-true-that-immigrant-novels-have-to-do-with-people-going-from-one/) [Oscar Hijuelos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hijuelos/) > [Has all the trappings of a mystery novel, doesn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/has-all-the-trappings-of-a-mystery-novel-doesn-t-it/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [If one book's done this well, you want to write another one that does just as well. There's that horror of the second novel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-haddon/if-one-book-s-done-this-well-you-want-to-write-another-one-that-does/) [Mark Haddon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-haddon/) > [A good novel doesn't just transcend the boundaries of its target market - it knows nothing about target markets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianna-baggott/a-good-novel-doesn-t-just-transcend-the-boundaries-of-its-target/) [Julianna Baggott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianna-baggott/) > [The average detective story is probably no worse than the average novel, but you never see the average novel. It doesn't get published. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-average-detective-story-is-probably-no-worse-than-the-average/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [I sort of hate the novel when it doesn't push, restlessly, against the tradition and the traditional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-moody/i-sort-of-hate-the-novel-when-it-doesn-t-push-restlessly-against-the/) [Rick Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-moody/) > [I love R&B because it got me to where I am today, but at the same time, R&B just doesn't sell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poo-bear/i-love-r-b-because-it-got-me-to-where-i-am-today-but-at-the-same-time/) [Poo Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poo-bear/) > [PRINGLES: The only chip company in the world that doesn't sell air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pringles-the-only-chip-company-in-the-world-that-doesn-t-sell-air/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jeff Giles > [Scott Bradfield writes weird, oblique, unsettling stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/scott-bradfield-writes-weird-oblique-unsettling-stuff/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [There are all kinds of voices in YA, and they are realistic and unflinching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/there-are-all-kinds-of-voices-in-ya-and-they-are-realistic-and/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [Jean Thompson's short-story collection 'Who Do You Love' is a beautiful book, but a hell of a sad one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/jean-thompson-s-short-story-collection-who-do-you-love-is-a-beautiful/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [I know Peter Jackson a tiny-tiny bit from interviewing him about the 'Lord of the Rings' movies over the years. When I was visiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/i-know-peter-jackson-a-tiny-tiny-bit-from-interviewing-him-about-the/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [The YA category changes pretty fast. I'm so impressed by what these authors do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/the-ya-category-changes-pretty-fast-i-m-so-impressed-by-what-these/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [Making a summer movie is like accepting a mission impossible: your enemies are everywhere, and if you fail, the studio's never heard of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/making-a-summer-movie-is-like-accepting-a-mission-impossible-your/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [I had written many things as a journalist, but I had no idea if I could write something scary or romantic or touching that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/i-had-written-many-things-as-a-journalist-but-i-had-no-idea-if-i/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [It's been said that Generation X should get a life. Well, in 'Bottle Rocket,' they get a life of crime. Or at least try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/it-s-been-said-that-generation-x-should-get-a-life-well-in-bottle/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [Sharon Stone has made a fortune from her movies, so who says you can't get something for nothing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/sharon-stone-has-made-a-fortune-from-her-movies-so-who-says-you-can-t/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [I didn't want to write a pure fantasy novel, though I love those and grew up on J. R. R. Tolkien and Ursula LeGuin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-pure-fantasy-novel-though-i-love-those-and/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [Because I'm a writer, I'm really good at being nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/because-i-m-a-writer-i-m-really-good-at-being-nervous/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [Authors all have at least one thing in common, which is that when we finally get finished copies of our books, we get giddy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/authors-all-have-at-least-one-thing-in-common-which-is-that-when-we/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [I like beautiful writing, pain, unexpected humor, and the message that, at the last second, people are going to be kind to each other.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/i-like-beautiful-writing-pain-unexpected-humor-and-the-message-that/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > ['White Teeth' has far too many characters, and its plot is tortured. But Smith has an astonishing intellect. She writes sharp dialogue for every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/white-teeth-has-far-too-many-characters-and-its-plot-is-tortured-but/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) > [I'd been wanting to try a YA novel for years because I saw how exciting the genre was and how amazing, hungry, and curious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-giles/i-d-been-wanting-to-try-a-ya-novel-for-years-because-i-saw-how/) [Jeff Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) [Explore all 34 Jeff Giles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-giles/) ## 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": "The conventional wisdom is that authors get only one chance in this world. 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