--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought, 'Nobody wants this book, and…" description: "\"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 fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/min-jin-lee-7625_book_i-thought-nobody-wants-this-book-and-i-m_584005.jpg" --- # I thought, 'Nobody wants this book, and I'm an idiot for… ![“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.” quote by Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/min-jin-lee-7625_book_i-thought-nobody-wants-this-book-and-i-m_584005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/min-jin-lee-7625_book_i-thought-nobody-wants-this-book-and-i-m_584005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/min-jin-lee-7625_book_i-thought-nobody-wants-this-book-and-i-m_584005.jpg) > “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.” [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Idiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idiot/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Anybody who likes writing a book is an idiot. Because it's impossible; it's like having a homework assignment every stinking day until it's done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/anybody-who-likes-writing-a-book-is-an-idiot-because-it-s-impossible-2/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [“Anybody who likes writing a book is an idiot. 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You would just look stupid. You can thank me later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/me-and-katy-look-adorkable-in-extraterrestrial-highway-shirts-you/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“He wants awfully to be inside staring out: anybody with their nose pressed against a glass is liable to look stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truman-capote/he-wants-awfully-to-be-inside-staring-out-anybody-with-their-nose/) [Truman Capote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truman-capote/) > [You can always forgive the people Who hurt and made you look stupid But you can never forget,What they did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/you-can-always-forgive-the-people-who-hurt-and-made-you-look-stupid/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [When someone is mad and asks you Do I look stupid? Don't answer them just stare curiously at them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/when-someone-is-mad-and-asks-you-do-i-look-stupid-don-t-answer-them/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) ## More by Min Jin Lee > [If I meet a wise person, I think, 'Yes, tell me more about parenting, about marriage, about how to stay in love. Tell me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/if-i-meet-a-wise-person-i-think-yes-tell-me-more-about-parenting/) [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) > [I was told many times that my writing was either too Korean - or not Korean enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/i-was-told-many-times-that-my-writing-was-either-too-korean-or-not/) [Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/) > [ “\[...\] I talk to the dead although I don't believe in ghosts. But it makes me feel good to speak with them. 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