--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I…" description: "\"I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I going to write a young adult book, or do I desperately want to write a book for adults?' I think the better ambi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/markus-zusak-165_ambition_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-goi_1816120.jpg" --- # I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I going to write a… ![“I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I going to write a young adult book, or do I desperately want to write a book for adults?' I think the better ambition is to try to write someone's favorite book, because those categorizations of adult, young adult, become kind of superfluous.” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/markus-zusak-165_ambition_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-goi_1816120.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/markus-zusak-165_ambition_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-goi_1816120.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/markus-zusak-165_ambition_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-goi_1816120.jpg) > “I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I going to write a young adult book, or do I desperately want to write a book for adults?' I think the better ambition is to try to write someone's favorite book, because those categorizations of adult, young adult, become kind of superfluous.” [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The focus should be on crafting a compelling story rather than targeting a specific age category. **In simple terms:** Write for impact, not age labels. Key Takeaway Aim for universal appeal in storytelling. Themes writing audience genre universal appeal creativity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type practical motivational When to use this quote - book clubs - creative writing classes - publishing strategy Key Concepts narrative theory market dynamics literary criticism Questions to Reflect On - What story elements transcend age? - How can you test a story’s universal resonance? A Different Perspective Genre labels can limit marketing and reader expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Favorite book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favorite-book/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Young adult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-adult/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [I just want to write someone’s favorite book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-just-want-to-write-someone-s-favorite-book/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“This is one of the chief differences between a child's experience of a favorite book and an educated adult's. For the adult, a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-miller/this-is-one-of-the-chief-differences-between-a-child-s-experience-of/) [Laura Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-miller/) > [I don't think I ever intended specifically to write for the young adult market. It's just that when the idea for City of Bones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-think-i-ever-intended-specifically-to-write-for-the-young/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I get to be creative and to write: two of my favorite things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-roe/i-get-to-be-creative-and-to-write-two-of-my-favorite-things/) [Louise Roe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-roe/) > [I write everything. It's my favorite part of what I do. And lyrics are my favorite thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsea-ballerini/i-write-everything-it-s-my-favorite-part-of-what-i-do-and-lyrics-are/) [Kelsea Ballerini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsea-ballerini/) > [Becoming a YA author was actually a very lucky accident. When I wrote the 'Queen of Everything,' I thought it was a book for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/becoming-a-ya-author-was-actually-a-very-lucky-accident-when-i-wrote/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [I've been asked this question so many times, do you feel you need to write a book for adults? No, I don't need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-ve-been-asked-this-question-so-many-times-do-you-feel-you-need-to/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > ['Ninth House' is my first book for adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/ninth-house-is-my-first-book-for-adults/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [Over and over again women and men ... come to me saying, I don't know enough to write a book for adults, and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mabel-robinson/over-and-over-again-women-and-men-come-to-me-saying-i-don-t-know/) Mabel Robinson > [I think the next thing I publish will be for children, but I don't really want to be held to that because I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-think-the-next-thing-i-publish-will-be-for-children-but-i-don-t/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [When I wrote 'Marley & Me,' I had a clear audience in mind. And it did not include children. I wrote my book for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grogan/when-i-wrote-marley-me-i-had-a-clear-audience-in-mind-and-it-did-not/) [John Grogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grogan/) > [I think kids want the same thing from a book that adults want - a fast-paced story, characters worth caring about, humor, surprises, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-think-kids-want-the-same-thing-from-a-book-that-adults-want-a-fast/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [As a children's author, reviewers are generally very nice to you. I only ever wrote one adult book and received such a kicking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/as-a-children-s-author-reviewers-are-generally-very-nice-to-you-i/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [I think I was 13 years old when my father put in my hands 'The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.' It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stellan-skarsgard/i-think-i-was-13-years-old-when-my-father-put-in-my-hands-the-spy-who/) [Stellan Skarsgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stellan-skarsgard/) > [I'm usually working either on a picture book and a young adult book, or a middle grade book and a young adult book. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/i-m-usually-working-either-on-a-picture-book-and-a-young-adult-book/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) ## More by Markus Zusak > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“For two days I went about my business. I travelled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/for-two-days-i-went-about-my-business-i-travelled-the-globe-as-always/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I'm twenty years old and look at me-- there isn't a thing I want to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-m-twenty-years-old-and-look-at-me-there-isn-t-a-thing-i-want-to-do/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/in-years-to-come-he-would-be-a-giver-of-bread-not-a-stealer-proof/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“«¿Por qué no puede oírlo el resto del mundo? —me pregunto. En pocos segundos me lo pregunto muchas veces—. Porque no le importa —me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/por-qu-no-puede-o-rlo-el-resto-del-mundo-me-pregunto-en-pocos/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Could she smell my breath? Could she hear my cursed circular heart beat revolving like the crime it is in my deathly chest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/could-she-smell-my-breath-could-she-hear-my-cursed-circular-heart/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I see how complicated it is to make a film and how many people are involved and I love the fact that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-see-how-complicated-it-is-to-make-a-film-and-how-many-people-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [One wild card was yet to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/one-wild-card-was-yet-to-be-played/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Može li netko ukrasti sreću? Ili je i to još jedan unutarnji, paklenski ljudski trik?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/mo-e-li-netko-ukrasti-sre-u-ili-je-i-to-jo-jedan-unutarnji-paklenski/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I look at my first books and am glad they weren't published… You start writing by imitating your heroes, then you keep the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-look-at-my-first-books-and-am-glad-they-weren-t-published-you-start/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Explore all 953 Markus Zusak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I going to write a young adult book, or do I desperately want to write a book for adults?' I think the better ambition is to try to write someone's favorite book, because those categorizations of adult, young adult, become kind of superfluous.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Markus Zusak" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-going-to-write-a-young-adult/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ambition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-going-to-write-a-young-adult/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/markus-zusak-165_ambition_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-goi_1816120.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/markus-zusak-165_ambition_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-goi_1816120.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b6/markus-zusak-165_ambition_i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-goi_1816120.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think it's a mistake to think, 'Am I going to write a young adult book, or do I desperately want to write…” — Markus Zusak", "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": "Markus Zusak", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think it's a mistake to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-going-to-write-a-young-adult/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-think-am-i-going-to-write-a-young-adult/#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 } } ] } ```