--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's hard to read good fiction when I am…" description: "\"It's hard to read good fiction when I am writing, because if it is really good I catch myself sort of inadvertently imitating a great writer.\" — John G..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/john-grisham-974_am_it-s-hard-to-read-good-fiction-when-i-am_2343427.jpg" --- # It's hard to read good fiction when I am writing, because… ![“It's hard to read good fiction when I am writing, because if it is really good I catch myself sort of inadvertently imitating a great writer.” quote by John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/john-grisham-974_am_it-s-hard-to-read-good-fiction-when-i-am_2343427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/john-grisham-974_am_it-s-hard-to-read-good-fiction-when-i-am_2343427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/john-grisham-974_am_it-s-hard-to-read-good-fiction-when-i-am_2343427.jpg) > “It's hard to read good fiction when I am writing, because if it is really good I catch myself sort of inadvertently imitating a great writer.” [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes the challenge writers face when reading excellent fiction, fearing unintentional imitation. **In simple terms:** Writers may copy great authors unintentionally. Key Takeaway Cultivate a unique voice through conscious practice. Themes writing creativity influence self-awareness Mood reflective cautionary Type literary self‑help When to use this quote - editing drafts - reading diverse genres - writing workshops - self-reflection Key Concepts literary imitation authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate influence from imitation? - What strategies protect your authentic voice? A Different Perspective Mimicry can stifle originality if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-writing/) [Great writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-writer/) [Inadvertently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inadvertently/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I had inadvertently walked through a door that I shouldn’t have gone through and couldn’t get back to the place I hadn’t meant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-maxwell/i-had-inadvertently-walked-through-a-door-that-i-shouldn-t-have-gone/) [William Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-maxwell/) > [Anybody can be very destructive in that position without at all meaning to be, and I know that I have been inadvertently destructive in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/anybody-can-be-very-destructive-in-that-position-without-at-all/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [“Or maybe it was too late, and I had already chosen, inadvertently and incrementally, to be something else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-levy/or-maybe-it-was-too-late-and-i-had-already-chosen-inadvertently-and/) [Ariel Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-levy/) > [We're so preoccupied with protecting children from disappointment and discomfort that we're inadvertently excusing them from growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lz-granderson/we-re-so-preoccupied-with-protecting-children-from-disappointment-and/) [LZ Granderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lz-granderson/) > [Fortunately, I am accustomed to creating amusement inadvertently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graeme-simsion/fortunately-i-am-accustomed-to-creating-amusement-inadvertently/) [Graeme Simsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graeme-simsion/) > [In a sense, Britain inadvertently, through its actions in Hong Kong, did more to reduce world poverty than all the aid programs that we’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-romer/in-a-sense-britain-inadvertently-through-its-actions-in-hong-kong-did/) [Paul Romer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-romer/) > [With its missed lines and falling tombstones, 'Dark Shadows' was sometimes inadvertently funny, but what made the show work was the fact that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-mann/with-its-missed-lines-and-falling-tombstones-dark-shadows-was/) [William J. 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