--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is only one motive for writing a…" description: "\"“There is only one motive for writing a novel: to be published and read. To me there is no distinction between the mystery novel and the novel, only be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/john-franklin-bardin-75051_books_there-is-only-one-motive-for-writing-a-n_2044057.jpg" --- # There is only one motive for writing a novel: to be… ![“There is only one motive for writing a novel: to be published and read. To me there is no distinction between the mystery novel and the novel, only between good books and bad books. A good book takes the reader into a new world of experience; it is an experiment. A bad book, unless the writing is…” quote by John Franklin Bardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/john-franklin-bardin-75051_books_there-is-only-one-motive-for-writing-a-n_2044057.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/john-franklin-bardin-75051_books_there-is-only-one-motive-for-writing-a-n_2044057.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/john-franklin-bardin-75051_books_there-is-only-one-motive-for-writing-a-n_2044057.jpg) > ““There is only one motive for writing a novel: to be published and read. To me there is no distinction between the mystery novel and the novel, only between good books and bad books. A good book takes the reader into a new world of experience; it is an experiment. A bad book, unless the writing is inept, reinforces the intransigent attitude of the reader not to experiment with a new world. Since there are criminals and psychopaths and sociopaths in all my novels they are in a way psychological thrillers.”” [John Franklin Bardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-franklin-bardin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing novels aims to reach readers; good books invite new experiences, while bad ones discourage experimentation, regardless of genre. **In simple terms:** Novels should engage readers and challenge their views. Key Takeaway Write to expand readers' horizons. Themes literature psychology genre reader engagement experimentation Mood thoughtful critical inspirational Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - book clubs - creative writing classes - editorial reviews - publishing decisions Key Concepts psychological thriller novel structure authorial intent Questions to Reflect On - How does a novel's quality affect a reader's openness to new perspectives? - What responsibilities do authors have to challenge readers? A Different Perspective Even well‑written bad books can limit readers' willingness to explore new ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Good book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-book/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Motive Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive-writing-1664751/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Mystery Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery-novel-1990812/) [Novel Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-good-1505670/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-novel/) ## Related quotes > [“Great mystery novel for the beach. Just when you think you know where the plot is going, it goes somewhere else. Big surprise ending!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-a-milman/great-mystery-novel-for-the-beach-just-when-you-think-you-know-where/) [Harry A. Milman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-a-milman/) > [If the motive of writing is for some people a kind of exercise in dirty laundry, that's one thing. I've always thought of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-dunn/if-the-motive-of-writing-is-for-some-people-a-kind-of-exercise-in/) [Stephen Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-dunn/) > [Curiosity is the best motive for writing: curiosity about the world at large, or about oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/curiosity-is-the-best-motive-for-writing-curiosity-about-the-world-at/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [“It’s making me suspicious of everyone. Everywhere I go I’m looking at people and wondering if it’s them. I hate it. 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I think that this is the big lie of the mystery novel, that you should close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-don-t-believe-that-murders-can-be-solved-i-think-that-this-is-the/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [A mystery novel localizes the awesome force of the real death outside the book, winds it tightly in a plot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/a-mystery-novel-localizes-the-awesome-force-of-the-real-death-outside/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [I had thought for years, probably 30 or 40 years, that it would be a lot of fun to try my hand at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bradley/i-had-thought-for-years-probably-30-or-40-years-that-it-would-be-a/) [Alan Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bradley/) ## More by John Franklin Bardin > [“Not today! 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