--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't want to write a book as Stephen…" description: "\"I didn't want to write a book as Stephen King's son, because all I did was get born, and that's not much of an accomplishment. If that was the reason m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/owen-king-16411_accomplishment_i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen_3138750.jpg" --- # I didn't want to write a book as Stephen King's son… ![“I didn't want to write a book as Stephen King's son, because all I did was get born, and that's not much of an accomplishment. If that was the reason my book was published, it wouldn't be worth the paper it was printed on. I wanted to do my own thing.” quote by Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/owen-king-16411_accomplishment_i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen_3138750.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/owen-king-16411_accomplishment_i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen_3138750.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/owen-king-16411_accomplishment_i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen_3138750.jpg) > “I didn't want to write a book as Stephen King's son, because all I did was get born, and that's not much of an accomplishment. If that was the reason my book was published, it wouldn't be worth the paper it was printed on. I wanted to do my own thing.” [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on lineage for success undermines personal effort; authentic achievement comes from one’s own work. **In simple terms:** Don’t count on family name for success. Key Takeaway Earn your own credibility. Themes identity authenticity achievement Mood determined hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - publishing - career building - family expectations Key Concepts legacy selfdetermination Questions to Reflect On - How do you define success independent of family? - What steps build your own legacy? A Different Perspective Family reputation can’t replace personal merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-stephen-2513889/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Published Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published-wouldn-5582666/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Stephen king](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stephen-king/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Want Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-write/) [Write Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-book/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a huge fan of the book and Stephen King is one of my big heroes, literary heroes, and I am a fan, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/i-m-a-huge-fan-of-the-book-and-stephen-king-is-one-of-my-big-heroes/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [I can't write the book I want to write, but I can and will write the book I am capable of writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-can-t-write-the-book-i-want-to-write-but-i-can-and-will-write-the/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [I always said that I want to write a book about success and my story and my brand and everything that goes with it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reem-acra/i-always-said-that-i-want-to-write-a-book-about-success-and-my-story/) [Reem Acra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reem-acra/) > [I will say I highly recommend, if you want to write a book also, have a child in the midst of that process because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/i-will-say-i-highly-recommend-if-you-want-to-write-a-book-also-have-a/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [“You must feel it from within. You must want to write the book. You must desire to write the book”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-gowor/you-must-feel-it-from-within-you-must-want-to-write-the-book-you-must/) [Emily Gowor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-gowor/) > [I don't think anyone sits down and thinks, 'I know, I'll be a chick-lit writer.' You write the book that you want to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/i-don-t-think-anyone-sits-down-and-thinks-i-know-i-ll-be-a-chick-lit/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I didn't want to write the same book over and over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-didn-t-want-to-write-the-same-book-over-and-over/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > [“I want to write a book like a cloud that changes as it goes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-sukenick/i-want-to-write-a-book-like-a-cloud-that-changes-as-it-goes/) [Ronald Sukenick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-sukenick/) > [“I want to write a book again,” I said to Sam on a blazingly hot afternoon on the veranda of the Red Tin Roof.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-pauw/i-want-to-write-a-book-again-i-said-to-sam-on-a-blazingly-hot/) [Jacques Pauw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-pauw/) > [you want to write a book for so many reasons ... The main reason ... is because it will make you well-known and beloved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-gurley-brown/you-want-to-write-a-book-for-so-many-reasons-the-main-reason-is/) [Helen Gurley Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-gurley-brown/) > [I didn't want to write a book. They made me do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-they-made-me-do-it/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [“A lot of teenagers write to me and say "I want to write a book. I want to get published." And those are two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/a-lot-of-teenagers-write-to-me-and-say-i-want-to-write-a-book-i-want/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I didn't want to write another book about fraudulence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-didn-t-want-to-write-another-book-about-fraudulence/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [I really strive to bring something new to each book. I don't want to write the same book over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-really-strive-to-bring-something-new-to-each-book-i-don-t-want-to/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I lead a normal life and I don't assume there is anything I can impart to people. The only reason to write a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-duffy/i-lead-a-normal-life-and-i-don-t-assume-there-is-anything-i-can/) [Patrick Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-duffy/) ## More by Owen King > [A lot of storytelling... you're a bit hypnotized by it, and things just come out in certain ways, and you look at it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/a-lot-of-storytelling-you-re-a-bit-hypnotized-by-it-and-things-just/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [My first job was as a groundskeeper at the local ballpark in the town where I grew up. There was a lot of down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/my-first-job-was-as-a-groundskeeper-at-the-local-ballpark-in-the-town/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [I give my work to my wife first to read. Then, I try to find new people who haven't read my work before, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-give-my-work-to-my-wife-first-to-read-then-i-try-to-find-new-people/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [I only finish probably one out of every ten things I start. I give up all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-only-finish-probably-one-out-of-every-ten-things-i-start-i-give-up/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [My father has been a major force in the popular culture for a long, long time. He's a fascinating person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/my-father-has-been-a-major-force-in-the-popular-culture-for-a-long/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [I think I always wanna write comedy because that's what feels truest to me; it feels closest to life as I know it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-think-i-always-wanna-write-comedy-because-that-s-what-feels-truest/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [I find that I'm extremely unattracted to anything that's humorless. There is writing that is entirely serious, and it doesn't ring true to me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-find-that-i-m-extremely-unattracted-to-anything-that-s-humorless/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [“To give another person the benefit of the doubt was about as difficult an everyday task as anyone faced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/to-give-another-person-the-benefit-of-the-doubt-was-about-as/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [For me, the easiest thing to figure out is the story I want to tell, and the hardest thing is to figure out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/for-me-the-easiest-thing-to-figure-out-is-the-story-i-want-to-tell/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [Who wouldn't be depressed living in a society that can't agree on reality, let alone health-care policy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/who-wouldn-t-be-depressed-living-in-a-society-that-can-t-agree-on/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [I think the model that I look at is someone like Jakob Dylan, whose dad is obviously every bit if not more famous than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-think-the-model-that-i-look-at-is-someone-like-jakob-dylan-whose/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [The questions about my father are inevitable, regardless of the characters I create or the subject matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/the-questions-about-my-father-are-inevitable-regardless-of-the/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [I wasn't good at the sciences; I wasn't a good enough athlete. The only thing I could do was mow lawns. So I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-wasn-t-good-at-the-sciences-i-wasn-t-a-good-enough-athlete-the-only/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [I suspect that perfect happiness is not possible for me. I suppose if I was ever selected for eternal life - the moment I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-suspect-that-perfect-happiness-is-not-possible-for-me-i-suppose-if/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) > [The last thing I want to do is to present something as 'Stephen King, Part II,' and have it be something that's a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/the-last-thing-i-want-to-do-is-to-present-something-as-stephen-king/) [Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) [Explore all 40 Owen King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) [Anthony Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-sargent/) > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't want to write a book as Stephen King's son, because all I did was get born, and that's not much of an accomplishment. If that was the reason my book was published, it wouldn't be worth the paper it was printed on. I wanted to do my own thing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Owen King" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen-king-s-son-because-all-i-did/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen-king-s-son-because-all-i-did/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/owen-king-16411_accomplishment_i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen_3138750.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/owen-king-16411_accomplishment_i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen_3138750.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ee/owen-king-16411_accomplishment_i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen_3138750.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I didn't want to write a book as Stephen King's son, because all I did was get born, and that's not much of…” — Owen King", "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": "Owen King", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I didn't want to write a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen-king-s-son-because-all-i-did/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-didn-t-want-to-write-a-book-as-stephen-king-s-son-because-all-i-did/#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 } } ] } ```