--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had spent five years not earning a…" description: "\"I had spent five years not earning a penny, getting rejected. Thank God I had a husband who was supportive and encouraging. But I still said to myself,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/karen-abbott-13658_earning_i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-pen_2107892.png" --- # I had spent five years not earning a penny, getting… ![“I had spent five years not earning a penny, getting rejected. Thank God I had a husband who was supportive and encouraging. But I still said to myself, 'If the Everleighs doesn't sell, I'm finished with writing forever.' I was going to get an office job.” quote by Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/karen-abbott-13658_earning_i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-pen_2107892.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/karen-abbott-13658_earning_i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-pen_2107892.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/karen-abbott-13658_earning_i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-pen_2107892.png) > “I had spent five years not earning a penny, getting rejected. Thank God I had a husband who was supportive and encouraging. But I still said to myself, 'If the Everleighs doesn't sell, I'm finished with writing forever.' I was going to get an office job.” [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She faced prolonged failure but relied on a supportive spouse, yet feared permanent defeat if her work didn't succeed, prompting a career shift. **In simple terms:** She feared failure despite support and considered quitting writing. Key Takeaway Seek support but plan realistic goals. Themes resilience support fear career change Mood determined anxious Type advice personal narrative When to use this quote - writing career - job search - spousal support Key Concepts self‑efficacy social support risk perception Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance support with self‑belief? - What steps can mitigate fear of failure? A Different Perspective Personal optimism may overlook systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earning/) [Encouraging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encouraging/) [Finished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished/) [Finished Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finished-writing-1280665/) [Five](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five/) [Five years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/five-years/) [Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forever/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting/) [Getting Rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-rejected-427795/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/office/) [Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penny/) [Rejected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rejected/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Everleighs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-everleighs-4242314/) [Sell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sell/) [Spent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spent/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Supportive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supportive/) [Thank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank/) [Thank god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thank-god/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Forever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-forever-2781261/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“He whistles. Que viva Colombia. Hands you back the Book. You really should write the cheater's guide to love. You think? I do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/he-whistles-que-viva-colombia-hands-you-back-the-book-you-really/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [I've been writing forever, 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/i-ve-been-writing-forever-20-years/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [“The next day you look at the new pages. For once you don't want to burn them or give up writing forever. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-next-day-you-look-at-the-new-pages-for-once-you-don-t-want-to/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“No one is asking, let alone demanding, that you write. The world is not waiting with bated breath for your article or book. Whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-mende-conny/no-one-is-asking-let-alone-demanding-that-you-write-the-world-is-not/) [Beth Mende Conny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-mende-conny/) > [If only words can explain how I feel for you, I'll be writing forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natessha-arne-tallo/if-only-words-can-explain-how-i-feel-for-you-i-ll-be-writing-forever/) [Natessha Arne Tallo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natessha-arne-tallo/) > [Getting rejected by an animal is worse than getting rejected by a human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/getting-rejected-by-an-animal-is-worse-than-getting-rejected-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I remember auditioning for a whole bunch of series that I didn't get. I kept getting rejected; I was a little bit upset about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-mclaughlin/i-remember-auditioning-for-a-whole-bunch-of-series-that-i-didn-t-get/) [Caleb McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-mclaughlin/) > [I get mad at people who talk about traumatic job interviews, about going on one and getting rejected. I get rejected all the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-sweeney/i-get-mad-at-people-who-talk-about-traumatic-job-interviews-about/) [Julia Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-sweeney/) > [You learn a lot more from stories about getting rejected than stories about becoming happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/makoto-shinkai/you-learn-a-lot-more-from-stories-about-getting-rejected-than-stories/) [Makoto Shinkai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/makoto-shinkai/) > [Stay enthusiastic after getting rejected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-dejoria/stay-enthusiastic-after-getting-rejected/) [John Paul DeJoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-dejoria/) > [I can remember getting rejected systematically by casting directors as a young kid. I felt like the biggest outsider there ever was; that I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/i-can-remember-getting-rejected-systematically-by-casting-directors/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [~getting rejected fucking sucks… ohhh well I dont give a fuck anymore...~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-broken/getting-rejected-fucking-sucks-ohhh-well-i-dont-give-a-fuck-anymore/) [She's\_broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/she-s-broken/) > [The key to not getting rejected if you're writing for a magazine, is to know to read that magazine and know everything about them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/the-key-to-not-getting-rejected-if-you-re-writing-for-a-magazine-is/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) > [“Not Taking NO Personally Here’s my take on the fear of rejection: It’s a sign that you’re placing a higher value on your fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-fenton/not-taking-no-personally-here-s-my-take-on-the-fear-of-rejection-it-s/) [Richard Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-fenton/) > [“I'm NOT used to it! But...I'm not as scared as I was before. Getting rejected is painful, but there are also people who accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sakura-tsukuba/i-m-not-used-to-it-but-i-m-not-as-scared-as-i-was-before-getting/) [Sakura Tsukuba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sakura-tsukuba/) ## More by Karen Abbott > [“A Republican is a man who wants you to go t'church every Sunday. A Democrat says if a man wants to have a glass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/a-republican-is-a-man-who-wants-you-to-go-t-church-every-sunday-a/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [ I think Gypsy \[Rose Lee\] would be appalled at today's rawer, more blatant displays of the female form. She was, in her own way,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/i-think-gypsy-rose-lee-would-be-appalled-at-today-s-rawer-more/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [I spent three years researching American Rose, research that included connecting with Gypsy's sister, the late actress June Havoc (I was the last person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/i-spent-three-years-researching-american-rose-research-that-included/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [ Gypsy \[Rose Lee \] was a masterful storyteller, and her memoir and by extension, the musical weren't only Gypsy's monument; they were also her… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/gypsy-rose-lee-was-a-masterful-storyteller-and-her-memoir-and-by/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [Vaudeville was characterized by sunny optimism, acts that were uplifting, cheerful, and clean. It provided a fanciful, magical escape, but after Black Friday, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/vaudeville-was-characterized-by-sunny-optimism-acts-that-were/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [An amusing city, Chicago, any way you look at it. I'm afraid we are in for the time of our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/an-amusing-city-chicago-any-way-you-look-at-it-i-m-afraid-we-are-in/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [ The cousin said that Gypsy \[Rose Lee\] took a full fifteen minutes to peel off a single glove, and that she was so damn… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/the-cousin-said-that-gypsy-rose-lee-took-a-full-fifteen-minutes-to/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [“He was just a taker. She was a taker in her way too. They were taking each other, and they loved each other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/he-was-just-a-taker-she-was-a-taker-in-her-way-too-they-were-taking/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [In the beginning of the war, Southern women wanted their men to leave - in droves, and as quickly as possible. They were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/in-the-beginning-of-the-war-southern-women-wanted-their-men-to-leave/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [ I thought both she \[Gypsy Rose Lee\] and her story would be ill-served by a conventional, birth-to-death narrative, and so I structured the book… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/i-thought-both-she-gypsy-rose-lee-and-her-story-would-be-ill-served/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [“And truth is malleable, something to be bent or stretched or made to disappear, but direct lies always find the path back to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/and-truth-is-malleable-something-to-be-bent-or-stretched-or-made-to/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [“Mother was,' June thought, 'a beautiful little ornament that was damaged.' Her broken edges cut her daughters in ways both emotional and physical, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/mother-was-june-thought-a-beautiful-little-ornament-that-was-damaged/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [ Gypsy \[Rose Lee\] is as unique as she is timeless. Her story is classic Americana, and the strangest rags-to-riches saga you'll ever read; I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/gypsy-rose-lee-is-as-unique-as-she-is-timeless-her-story-is-classic/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [Female spies typically represented one of two extremes: the seductress who employed her wiles to manipulate men, and the cross-dresser who blended in by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/female-spies-typically-represented-one-of-two-extremes-the-seductress/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) > [“A Republican is a man who wants you to go t’church every Sunday,” Bathhouse John pointed out. “A Democrat says if a man wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/a-republican-is-a-man-who-wants-you-to-go-t-church-every-sunday/) [Karen Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) [Explore all 49 Karen Abbott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/) ## More Earning quotes > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [I never knew an early-rising, hard-working, prudent man, careful of his earnings, and strictly honest who complained of bad luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/i-never-knew-an-early-rising-hard-working-prudent-man-careful-of-his/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-ellis/paul-revere-earned-his-living-as-a-silversmith-but-what-do-we/) [Susan J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-j-ellis/) > [If you don't like the idea that most of the money spent on lottery tickets supports government programs, you should know that most of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/if-you-don-t-like-the-idea-that-most-of-the-money-spent-on-lottery/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/writing-a-book-is-a-brilliant-thing-because-once-you-ve-finished-it/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [These Americans are among the working poor with full-time jobs earning $5.15 an hour. Millions fall into this boat, even more when you consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcy-kaptur/these-americans-are-among-the-working-poor-with-full-time-jobs/) [Marcy Kaptur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcy-kaptur/) > [If we would have anything of benefit, we must earn it, and earning it become shrewd, inventive, ingenious, active, enterprising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/if-we-would-have-anything-of-benefit-we-must-earn-it-and-earning-it/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [After years of research, I discovered 25 differences in the work-life choices of men and women. All 25 lead to men earning more money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/after-years-of-research-i-discovered-25-differences-in-the-work-life/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Recipients of transfers set a bad example for others, including their children, other relatives, and friends, who see that one can receive goods, services,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/recipients-of-transfers-set-a-bad-example-for-others-including-their/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [Annual earnings in the fast-food industry are well below the income needed for self-sufficiency, and fast-food industry jobs are also much less likely than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rolf/annual-earnings-in-the-fast-food-industry-are-well-below-the-income/) [David Rolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rolf/) > [Accounting consequences do not influence our operating or capital-allocation decisions. When acquisition costs are similar, we much prefer to purchase $2 of earnings that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/accounting-consequences-do-not-influence-our-operating-or-capital/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [“Invest in self-improvement, be it for learning, be it for earning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/invest-in-self-improvement-be-it-for-learning-be-it-for-earning/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [In the quiet hours when we are alone and there is nobody to tell us what fine fellows we are, we come sometimes upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne/in-the-quiet-hours-when-we-are-alone-and-there-is-nobody-to-tell-us/) [A. A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne/) > [The company must be profitable. Preferably it will have increased its earnings for the past five years and there will have been no deficits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cundill/the-company-must-be-profitable-preferably-it-will-have-increased-its/) [Peter Cundill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cundill/) [Browse all 655 Earning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had spent five years not earning a penny, getting rejected. Thank God I had a husband who was supportive and encouraging. But I still said to myself, 'If the Everleighs doesn't sell, I'm finished with writing forever.' I was going to get an office job.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karen Abbott" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-penny-getting-rejected-thank-god/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Earning" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-penny-getting-rejected-thank-god/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/karen-abbott-13658_earning_i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-pen_2107892.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/karen-abbott-13658_earning_i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-pen_2107892.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/392/karen-abbott-13658_earning_i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-pen_2107892.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had spent five years not earning a penny, getting rejected. Thank God I had a husband who was supportive…” — Karen Abbott", "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": "Karen Abbott", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-abbott/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had spent five years not...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-penny-getting-rejected-thank-god/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-abbott/i-had-spent-five-years-not-earning-a-penny-getting-rejected-thank-god/#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 } } ] } ```