--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's the challenge in writing a novel…" description: "\"What's the challenge in writing a novel that few people will read? I'm more than happy writing what I do and have no plans to change that.\" — Nicholas ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/nicholas-sparks-93_books_what-s-the-challenge-in-writing-a-novel_2260317.jpg" --- # What's the challenge in writing a novel that few people… ![“What's the challenge in writing a novel that few people will read? I'm more than happy writing what I do and have no plans to change that.” quote by Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/nicholas-sparks-93_books_what-s-the-challenge-in-writing-a-novel_2260317.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/nicholas-sparks-93_books_what-s-the-challenge-in-writing-a-novel_2260317.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/869/nicholas-sparks-93_books_what-s-the-challenge-in-writing-a-novel_2260317.jpg) > “What's the challenge in writing a novel that few people will read? I'm more than happy writing what I do and have no plans to change that.” [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He writes for personal satisfaction, indifferent to readership numbers. **In simple terms:** Write for personal joy, not audience. Key Takeaway Focus on authentic expression over popularity. Themes creativity authenticity independence Mood reflective passionate Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - self‑publishing - creative blocks Key Concepts literary art authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - How does audience size influence your motivation? - What drives you to keep writing? A Different Perspective Limited audience may affect impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Challenge Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge-writing-368417/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Happy Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-writing-842489/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Novel People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel-people-1350761/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plans/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-novel-429121/) ## Related quotes > [That's what people expect: They don't want to read a slight novel. People don't want to waste their time on anything less than 'great.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-zhang/that-s-what-people-expect-they-don-t-want-to-read-a-slight-novel/) [Jenny Zhang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-zhang/) > [I certainly don't sit down and plan a book out before I write it. There's a phrase I use called "The Valley Full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-certainly-don-t-sit-down-and-plan-a-book-out-before-i-write-it/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I like the challenge of writing music without being the coolest guy or band in the room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gourley/i-like-the-challenge-of-writing-music-without-being-the-coolest-guy/) [John Gourley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gourley/) > [I liked the challenge of writing and shooting without knowing what's going to happen or how it's going to turn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-mock/i-liked-the-challenge-of-writing-and-shooting-without-knowing-what-s/) [Evan Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-mock/) > [I liked the challenge of writing in a very concise structure in which both meaning and form are important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-liked-the-challenge-of-writing-in-a-very-concise-structure-in-which/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [The real challenge of writing songs isn't just writing a bunch of parts - like a verse, chorus, verse - but making something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mercer/the-real-challenge-of-writing-songs-isn-t-just-writing-a-bunch-of/) [James Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mercer/) > [Structure is, for me, the most fun challenge about writing novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/structure-is-for-me-the-most-fun-challenge-about-writing-novels/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [I always say that if you're a novelist, the challenge is not writing what you think ought to happen, but trying in some way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-always-say-that-if-you-re-a-novelist-the-challenge-is-not-writing/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“The greatest challenge in writing your book is maintaining the drive to finish it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-gerritsen/the-greatest-challenge-in-writing-your-book-is-maintaining-the-drive/) [Tess Gerritsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-gerritsen/) > [As an artist, you never want to write the same song again, you always want to challenge yourself to writing in a different way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serj-tankian/as-an-artist-you-never-want-to-write-the-same-song-again-you-always/) [Serj Tankian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serj-tankian/) > [The way I challenge myself is by writing something that really engages me, that doesn't have an easy answer, and isn't always an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/the-way-i-challenge-myself-is-by-writing-something-that-really/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [Your life story is a novel; and people, though they love novels wound between two yellow paper covers, are oddly suspicious of those which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-dumas/your-life-story-is-a-novel-and-people-though-they-love-novels-wound/) [Alexandre Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandre-dumas/) > [Strangely enough, the first character in Fried Green Tomatoes was the cafe, and the town. I think a place can be as much a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/strangely-enough-the-first-character-in-fried-green-tomatoes-was-the/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [History is a novel for which the people is the author.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-vigny/history-is-a-novel-for-which-the-people-is-the-author/) [Alfred de Vigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-vigny/) > [“As far as I can tell, a young adult novel is a regular novel that people actually read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/as-far-as-i-can-tell-a-young-adult-novel-is-a-regular-novel-that/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) ## More by Nicholas Sparks > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost; the body aged, sluggish,cold… the embers left from earlier fires shall dully flame again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-is-ever-lost-nor-can-be-lost-the-body-aged-sluggish-cold-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I'm sure you think that I don't understand what you're going through, but I do. It's just that sometimes, our future is dictated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-m-sure-you-think-that-i-don-t-understand-what-you-re-going-through/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“And in your smile, I will live forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/and-in-your-smile-i-will-live-forever/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [When we first met, I didn't want to get involved with anyone. I didn't have the time or energy, and I wasn't sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/when-we-first-met-i-didn-t-want-to-get-involved-with-anyone-i-didn-t/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“There is something terrible in the moments after waking up, when the subconscious knows that something terrible has happened but before all the memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-something-terrible-in-the-moments-after-waking-up-when-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There is nothing like love. You should try it.” Thibault shrugged. “Maybe one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-is-nothing-like-love-you-should-try-it-thibault-shrugged-maybe/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“more time she’d spent with him, the more convinced she became that he was by far the sexiest guy she’d ever met. Who else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/more-time-she-d-spent-with-him-the-more-convinced-she-became-that-he/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dear-john-tell-me-everything-write-it-all-down-that-way-we-ll-be-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [You were spying on us?" "It was kind of hard not to. You were right there by the workshop with Will. it looked like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-were-spying-on-us-it-was-kind-of-hard-not-to-you-were-right-there/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [There are lots of real men out there - men who could fall in love with you at the drop of a hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/there-are-lots-of-real-men-out-there-men-who-could-fall-in-love-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [...nothing wonderful lasted forever. Joy was as fleeting as a shooting star that crossed the evening sky, ready to blink out at any moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-wonderful-lasted-forever-joy-was-as-fleeting-as-a-shooting/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [I don't know. I really don't. While I was in the living room, I kept asking myself what I really wanted in life." She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-don-t-know-i-really-don-t-while-i-was-in-the-living-room-i-kept/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) [Explore all 1,309 Nicholas Sparks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What's the challenge in writing a novel that few people will read? 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