--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the most difficult things for a…" description: "\"One of the most difficult things for a writer in this business to accept is the uncertain fate of one's work.\" — Michael Crichton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/michael-crichton-694_accepting_one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-w_726042.jpg" --- # One of the most difficult things for a writer in this… ![“One of the most difficult things for a writer in this business to accept is the uncertain fate of one's work.” quote by Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/michael-crichton-694_accepting_one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-w_726042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/michael-crichton-694_accepting_one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-w_726042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/michael-crichton-694_accepting_one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-w_726042.jpg) > “One of the most difficult things for a writer in this business to accept is the uncertain fate of one's work.” [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writers face uncertainty about how their work will be received and endure over time. **In simple terms:** Writing outcomes are uncertain. Key Takeaway Accept unpredictability, focus on craft. Themes creative uncertainty literary market author anxiety Mood thoughtful realistic Type literary career When to use this quote - book launches - marketing - career planning Key Concepts publication cycles legacy building Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure success beyond sales? - What strategies mitigate career risk? A Different Perspective Market forces can eclipse artistic merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Difficult things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult-things/) [Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fate/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Thread of their days without pity, and in the midst of life, without ever concerning themselves with this fatal moment, living as though they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/thread-of-their-days-without-pity-and-in-the-midst-of-life-without/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [this is what happens to the plans of humans, it is when they make them in the midst of their pleasures that death cuts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquis-de-sade/this-is-what-happens-to-the-plans-of-humans-it-is-when-they-make-them/) [Marquis de Sade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquis-de-sade/) > [“Once, within the dark threads of her existence, love was the reason she fought through all her troubles. Now it was the same reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fleming-christie/once-within-the-dark-threads-of-her-existence-love-was-the-reason-she/) Ella Fleming-Christie > [“Love's Course A boatman crossing Yura Strait Has lost his rudder, and the boat Is drifting with uncertain fate, Like love's course, indeterminate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sone-no-yoshitada/love-s-course-a-boatman-crossing-yura-strait-has-lost-his-rudder-and/) Sone no Yoshitada > [“I realize that a writer's business is setting fire to Piggy Sneed-and trying to save him-again and again; forever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-realize-that-a-writer-s-business-is-setting-fire-to-piggy-sneed-and/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [A writer's business is minding other people's business ... all the vices of the village gossip are the virtues of the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-powell/a-writer-s-business-is-minding-other-people-s-business-all-the-vices/) [Dawn Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-powell/) > [When a young woman tells me that she wants to become and actor, I say, 'No, be a writer. Or go to business school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halle-berry/when-a-young-woman-tells-me-that-she-wants-to-become-and-actor-i-say/) [Halle Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halle-berry/) > [“The writer's business is to find the shape in unruly life and to serve her story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-gallagher/the-writer-s-business-is-to-find-the-shape-in-unruly-life-and-to-2/) Dorothy Gallagher > [I'm a writer, but this is a business. You have to look at it in the way you would look at any business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-m-a-writer-but-this-is-a-business-you-have-to-look-at-it-in-the-way/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“The writer's business is to find the shape in unruly life and to serve her story. 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They never think whether they should do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-are-focused-on-whether-they-can-do-something-they-never-think/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This is the gift of your species and this is the danger, because you do not choose to control your imaginings. You imagine wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-is-the-gift-of-your-species-and-this-is-the-danger-because-you/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [“it is important to recognize that the behavior of the two antagonists mirrors each other, like a Rorschach inkblot. The value of a Rorschach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/it-is-important-to-recognize-that-the-behavior-of-the-two-antagonists/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Exercise invigorates the body and sharpens the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/exercise-invigorates-the-body-and-sharpens-the-mind/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Social control is best managed through fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/social-control-is-best-managed-through-fear/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [They always say they didn't. I never heard of one who said, 'You know, I deserve this.' Never happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/they-always-say-they-didn-t-i-never-heard-of-one-who-said-you-know-i/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Friendships are nice. So is competence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/friendships-are-nice-so-is-competence/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [I can tell you that second hand smoke is not a health hazard to anyone and never was, and the EPA has always known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/i-can-tell-you-that-second-hand-smoke-is-not-a-health-hazard-to/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [As the practical value of altering consciousness becomes recognized, procedures to effect these alterations will become increasingly ordinary and unremarkable. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/as-the-practical-value-of-altering-consciousness-becomes-recognized/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [In any case, you read with exasperation or amusement the multiple errors in a story-and then turn the page to national or international affairs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/in-any-case-you-read-with-exasperation-or-amusement-the-multiple/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Books aren't written - they're rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/books-aren-t-written-they-re-rewritten-including-your-own-it-is-one/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [The purpose of life is to stay alive. Watch any animal in nature--all it tries to do is stay alive. It doesn't care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-stay-alive-watch-any-animal-in-nature-all/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [One of the things that Americans, as a multiracial society, feel is a tremendous sensitivity to racial comments of all kinds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/one-of-the-things-that-americans-as-a-multiracial-society-feel-is-a/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [Nobody smart knows what they want to do until they get into their twenties or thirties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/nobody-smart-knows-what-they-want-to-do-until-they-get-into-their/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [This fascination with computer models is something I understand very well. Richard Feynmann called it a disease. I fear he is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/this-fascination-with-computer-models-is-something-i-understand-very/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) [Explore all 386 Michael Crichton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the most difficult things for a writer in this business to accept is the uncertain fate of one's work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Crichton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-writer-in-this-business-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-writer-in-this-business-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/michael-crichton-694_accepting_one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-w_726042.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/michael-crichton-694_accepting_one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-w_726042.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73f/michael-crichton-694_accepting_one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-w_726042.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the most difficult things for a writer in this business to accept is the uncertain fate of one's work.” — Michael Crichton", "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 Crichton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the most difficult things...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-writer-in-this-business-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/one-of-the-most-difficult-things-for-a-writer-in-this-business-to/#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 } } ] } ```