--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Suppose that a person writes what she…" description: "\"Suppose that a person writes what she must. That is only the first step of becoming a writer. The work must survive the moment of creation. It must get..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/marge-piercy-2610_attention_suppose-that-a-person-writes-what-she-mu_818704.jpg" --- # Suppose that a person writes what she must. That is only… ![“Suppose that a person writes what she must. That is only the first step of becoming a writer. The work must survive the moment of creation. It must get out to an audience. She or he must dare to show the work. She must risk ridicule, misunderstanding, scandal, condemnation, & what's often worse…” quote by Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/marge-piercy-2610_attention_suppose-that-a-person-writes-what-she-mu_818704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/marge-piercy-2610_attention_suppose-that-a-person-writes-what-she-mu_818704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f6/marge-piercy-2610_attention_suppose-that-a-person-writes-what-she-mu_818704.jpg) > “Suppose that a person writes what she must. That is only the first step of becoming a writer. The work must survive the moment of creation. It must get out to an audience. She or he must dare to show the work. She must risk ridicule, misunderstanding, scandal, condemnation, & what's often worse, none of the above: silence. No attention at all.” [Marge Piercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marge-piercy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is only the first step; sharing it invites risk, criticism, and possible silence. **In simple terms:** Creating work is easy; exposing it is the challenge. Key Takeaway Be prepared for feedback and possible neglect. Themes creativity risk audience silence criticism Mood reflective serious Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - publishing a book - blogging - art exhibitions - social media posts Key Concepts authorship vulnerability public exposure Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle lack of response? - What strategies help you persist despite potential ridicule? A Different Perspective Silence can be more damaging than criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Audience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audience/) [Condemnation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/condemnation/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [First steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-steps/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Ridicule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ridicule/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Scandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scandal/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Silence, along with the attention it fosters, is our anchor to the present, to the here and now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-d-leclaire/silence-along-with-the-attention-it-fosters-is-our-anchor-to-the/) [Anne D. LeClaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-d-leclaire/) > [I don't even know how to define myself. I'm a person who writes. It's something I enjoy, and hopefully people enjoy it as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macaulay-culkin/i-don-t-even-know-how-to-define-myself-i-m-a-person-who-writes-it-s/) [Macaulay Culkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macaulay-culkin/) > [I think of myself as someone who thinks largely through writing. Thus I write more than most people, and I write in many different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/i-think-of-myself-as-someone-who-thinks-largely-through-writing-thus/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [No person writes to win awards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/no-person-writes-to-win-awards/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) > [Whenever a person writes something, anything, it's usually because they're going through something so strong all they can do is try to put it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugenia-vela/whenever-a-person-writes-something-anything-it-s-usually-because-they/) Eugenia Vela > [One of the reasons that any person writes anything is to try and keep his own sanity together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-wilentz/one-of-the-reasons-that-any-person-writes-anything-is-to-try-and-keep/) [Sean Wilentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-wilentz/) > [It's not a matter of old or new forms; a person writes without thinking about any forms, he writes because it flows freely from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/it-s-not-a-matter-of-old-or-new-forms-a-person-writes-without/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“Every person writes his own book with the example of his life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casper-silk/every-person-writes-his-own-book-with-the-example-of-his-life/) [Casper Silk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casper-silk/) > [“words, literature, are not in the consciousness of the person who writes but in his fingers and the paper and the typewriter, just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-muxf1oz-molina/words-literature-are-not-in-the-consciousness-of-the-person-who/) Antonio Muxf1oz Molina > [“Here are the two states in which you may exist: person who writes, or person who does not. 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They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. 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