--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good writing, in my opinion, is writing…" description: "\"Good writing, in my opinion, is writing that looks really easy, so easy that a person who has never written more than a grocery list might convince the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/mary-j-miller-21370_book_good-writing-in-my-opinion-is-writing-th_2955421.jpg" --- # Good writing, in my opinion, is writing that looks really… ![“Good writing, in my opinion, is writing that looks really easy, so easy that a person who has never written more than a grocery list might convince themself that they could also write a book. That being said, it's always a lot of work, as you know. And then there's this: you have no idea how many…” quote by Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/mary-j-miller-21370_book_good-writing-in-my-opinion-is-writing-th_2955421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/mary-j-miller-21370_book_good-writing-in-my-opinion-is-writing-th_2955421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11b/mary-j-miller-21370_book_good-writing-in-my-opinion-is-writing-th_2955421.jpg) > “Good writing, in my opinion, is writing that looks really easy, so easy that a person who has never written more than a grocery list might convince themself that they could also write a book. That being said, it's always a lot of work, as you know. And then there's this: you have no idea how many failed stories and novels I've attempted. I have files full of stories that didn't work for whatever reason.” [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explains that good writing appears effortless, yet requires extensive effort and many failed attempts, underscoring perseverance. **In simple terms:** Good writing looks easy but is hard work. Key Takeaway Practice and accept failure to improve writing. Themes writing effort perseverance Mood encouraging realistic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - authoring - editing - creative workshops Key Concepts craft process learning Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help maintain motivation? - How to view failure as learning? A Different Perspective May discourage beginners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Good writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-writing/) [Grocery lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grocery-lists/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [All writing is an act of self-exploration. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-have-the-most-devoted-and-loyal-following-i-could-probably-type-up/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [If you're writing an opinion piece, it's your job to write your opinion. If, on the other hand, you wrote a novel, as Virginia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-you-re-writing-an-opinion-piece-it-s-your-job-to-write-your/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, for opinion in good men is but knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/where-there-is-much-desire-to-learn-there-of-necessity-will-be-much/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [I think one of the main reasons I write is to do better than ranting. 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Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [It's something that's difficult to explain but I think all writers work this way to some extent, whether we're aware of it or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/it-s-something-that-s-difficult-to-explain-but-i-think-all-writers/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [There are many stories I've wanted to write that I'm simply not able to - sometimes I haven't found the way in yet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/there-are-many-stories-i-ve-wanted-to-write-that-i-m-simply-not-able/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I've learned so much from my professors and have been fortunate to have had so many good ones, including Frederick and Steven Barthelme, Edward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-ve-learned-so-much-from-my-professors-and-have-been-fortunate-to/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I think there simply comes a point at which you're beating your head against the wall with revision, when you're making something different but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-think-there-simply-comes-a-point-at-which-you-re-beating-your-head/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I suppose this is, essentially, my perspective on life. Just because we've made mistakes and learned things from them intellectually doesn't mean we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-suppose-this-is-essentially-my-perspective-on-life-just-because-we/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I've learned a lot about language from reading slush. You can immediately tell if a writer is in control of the narrative. This writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-ve-learned-a-lot-about-language-from-reading-slush-you-can/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I wish I knew exactly who I was. I was talking to a friend earlier about the advice people give each other, advice like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-wish-i-knew-exactly-who-i-was-i-was-talking-to-a-friend-earlier/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [It's definitely about the rhythm of the words and how they sound together, writing one sentence and then another and another and cutting something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/it-s-definitely-about-the-rhythm-of-the-words-and-how-they-sound/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I don't know what people want, really. Does somebody have to die? What is meant by resolution? These are questions that I don't quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-don-t-know-what-people-want-really-does-somebody-have-to-die-what/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [Making all of those words work together is difficult. It took a lot of cleaning up, a lot of rewriting scenes in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/making-all-of-those-words-work-together-is-difficult-it-took-a-lot-of/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I want to be able to discuss craft but I also want to teach writers to trust their instincts and learn to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-want-to-be-able-to-discuss-craft-but-i-also-want-to-teach-writers/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I don't revise a lot when writing short stories. As far as the novel, I definitely thought more about plot. Honestly, I'm still pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-don-t-revise-a-lot-when-writing-short-stories-as-far-as-the-novel-i/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [There's definitely a magical quality to writing that can't be explained. I can write something I love in two days, or I can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/there-s-definitely-a-magical-quality-to-writing-that-can-t-be/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [A story works when there's momentum, life behind the words. Some stories have this and others don't, and it's difficult to say why this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/a-story-works-when-there-s-momentum-life-behind-the-words-some/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) [Explore all 29 Mary J. 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