Book Quote by Min Jin Lee
“I thought, 'Nobody wants this book, and I'm an idiot for having worked on it so hard.' But to succeed in writing, you must be willing to look stupid for a long time. 'Pachinko' took so long because I got it wrong so many times.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Literary Podcast, 2017, discussing Pachinko
Lee stresses that writing success requires enduring periods of feeling foolish and repeatedly revising work despite self‑doubt.
In simple terms: Embrace feeling stupid and keep revising.
Key Takeaway
Persist through self‑doubt and revision.
Themes
writing
perseverance
humility
revision
growth
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
motivational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- first drafts
- editing cycles
- authorial confidence
- publishing journey
Key Concepts
creative resilience
learning from failure
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies help you stay motivated during long revisions?
- How do you separate self‑worth from a work’s quality?
A Different Perspective
Constant self‑criticism can stall progress if not managed.
![“[...] I talk to the dead although I don't believe in ghosts. But it makes me feel good to speak with them. Maybe that is what God is. A good God wouldn't have let my babies die. I can't believe in that. My babies did nothing wrong." "I agree. They did nothing wrong." He looked at her thoughtfully…” quote by Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d9d/min-jin-lee-7625_after-life_i-talk-to-the-dead-although-i-don-t-beli_77396.jpg)
