---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many writers make the mistake of making…"
description: "\"“Many writers make the mistake of making their readers appear like Lazarus, without any iota of care, throwing down books to readers to crunch as if th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/michael-bassey-johnson-311_attention_many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making_3154342.jpg"
---

#  Many writers make the mistake of making their readers…

![“Many writers make the mistake of making their readers appear like Lazarus, without any iota of care, throwing down books to readers to crunch as if they are dogs.” quote by Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/michael-bassey-johnson-311_attention_many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making_3154342.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/michael-bassey-johnson-311_attention_many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making_3154342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/michael-bassey-johnson-311_attention_many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making_3154342.jpg)

> ““Many writers make the mistake of making their readers appear like Lazarus, without any iota of care, throwing down books to readers to crunch as if they are dogs.””

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writers often neglect readers' emotional engagement, treating them as passive consumers rather than active participants.

**In simple terms:** Writers should care about readers' feelings.

Key Takeaway

Write with empathy for readers.

Themes

writing empathy reader engagement

Mood

reflective critical

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- book clubs
- creative writing workshops
- editing processes

Key Concepts

Literary criticism authorial responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you make readers feel seen?
- What techniques deepen reader connection?

A Different Perspective

Readers may still feel alienated if tone is mismatched.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Carnal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carnal/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Egoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/egoism/) [Epidemic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epidemic/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Impolite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impolite/) [Impoliteness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impoliteness/) [Improper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/improper/) [Insults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insults/) [Lack of respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-of-respect/) [Lackadaisical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lackadaisical/) [Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lazarus/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Michael-bassey-johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael-bassey-johnson/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Popularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popularity/) [Pride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pride/) [Readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/readers/) [Stupidity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupidity/) [Unpopularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unpopularity/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [“Majority of people prefer a good name to a bad name, but to me, anyone can call me anything, as long as it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/majority-of-people-prefer-a-good-name-to-a-bad-name-but-to-me-anyone/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [In 1937, I began, like Lazarus, the impossible return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whittaker-chambers/in-1937-i-began-like-lazarus-the-impossible-return/)

[Whittaker Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whittaker-chambers/)

> [“Given our new situation, I think you should find a more appropriate way to address me Polly. Do so now please.” I don’t even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-brandon/given-our-new-situation-i-think-you-should-find-a-more-appropriate/)

[Felicity Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-brandon/)

> [“Time machine to the past Step back a few years Old feelings, like Lazarus Suddenly reappear. It's your song on the radio And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-wetch/time-machine-to-the-past-step-back-a-few-years-old-feelings-like/)

[Justin Wetch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-wetch/)

> [“We have laws about human rights in place for a reason and even if those laws are so often not enforced BY the law,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-ouimet/we-have-laws-about-human-rights-in-place-for-a-reason-and-even-if/)

Darlene Ouimet

> [“. As it says in Ecclesiastes there is a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-jackson/as-it-says-in-ecclesiastes-there-is-a-time-to-weep-and-a-time-to/)

Melanie Jackson

> [“You are so wet,” you enthuse. “See how much you love to be punished, little one?” “Yes, sir,” I whimper, physically fighting the urge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-brandon/you-are-so-wet-you-enthuse-see-how-much-you-love-to-be-punished/)

[Felicity Brandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-brandon/)

> [“Some people do not want to examine religious influences of child maltreatment. However, if we fail to look at all influences and risk factors,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-heimlich/some-people-do-not-want-to-examine-religious-influences-of-child/)

Janet Heimlich

> [“Trauma may be endured through a physiological or psychological threat to life or overall wellbeing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asa-don-brown/trauma-may-be-endured-through-a-physiological-or-psychological-threat/)

[Asa Don Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asa-don-brown/)

## More by Michael Bassey Johnson

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“The human eye is restricted to see the useen, because there’s a price to be paid to the rulers of this image and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-human-eye-is-restricted-to-see-the-useen-because-there-s-a-price/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“-We need more love, to supersede hatred, -We need more strength, to resist our weaknesses, -We need more inspiration, to lighten up our innermind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/we-need-more-love-to-supersede-hatred-we-need-more-strength-to-resist/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Don't pretend to be what you're not, instead, pretend to what you want to be, it is not pretence, it is a journey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-pretend-to-be-what-you-re-not-instead-pretend-to-what-you-want/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“A lot can be done with courage, than with years wasted on the search for perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-lot-can-be-done-with-courage-than-with-years-wasted-on-the-search/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Sex doesn't satisfy for a lifetime, the more you have it, the more you want it. And the more you have it, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sex-doesn-t-satisfy-for-a-lifetime-the-more-you-have-it-the-more-you/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When you favour a woman, she will want to return the favour in so many means, but its better to rupidiate such offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-favour-a-woman-she-will-want-to-return-the-favour-in-so-many/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When pain inspires you, your thoughts scream its lungs out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-pain-inspires-you-your-thoughts-scream-its-lungs-out/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Petrichor is the earth unearthing itself on a rainy day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/petrichor-is-the-earth-unearthing-itself-on-a-rainy-day/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

[Explore all 703 Michael Bassey Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## More Attention quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/)

[Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/)

> [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/)

[Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/)

[Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/)

> [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/)

[Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/)

> [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/)

[Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/)

> [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/)

[Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/)

> [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/)

[Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/)

> [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/)

[Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/)

> [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/)

[Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/)

[Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Many writers make the mistake of making their readers appear like Lazarus, without any iota of care, throwing down books to readers to crunch as if they are dogs.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Bassey Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making-their-readers-appear-like/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attention"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making-their-readers-appear-like/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/michael-bassey-johnson-311_attention_many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making_3154342.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/michael-bassey-johnson-311_attention_many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making_3154342.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfd/michael-bassey-johnson-311_attention_many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making_3154342.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Many writers make the mistake of making their readers appear like Lazarus, without any iota of care…” — Michael Bassey Johnson",
                "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": "Michael Bassey Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Many writers make the mistake of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making-their-readers-appear-like/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/many-writers-make-the-mistake-of-making-their-readers-appear-like/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
