--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you write a hundred short stories and…" description: "\"If you write a hundred short stories and they're all bad, that doesn't mean you've failed. You fail only if you stop writing.\" — Ray Bradbury" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/ray-bradbury-75_fail_if-you-write-a-hundred-short-stories-and_3184051.jpg" --- # If you write a hundred short stories and they're all bad… ![“If you write a hundred short stories and they're all bad, that doesn't mean you've failed. You fail only if you stop writing.” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/ray-bradbury-75_fail_if-you-write-a-hundred-short-stories-and_3184051.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/ray-bradbury-75_fail_if-you-write-a-hundred-short-stories-and_3184051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/ray-bradbury-75_fail_if-you-write-a-hundred-short-stories-and_3184051.jpg) > “If you write a hundred short stories and they're all bad, that doesn't mean you've failed. You fail only if you stop writing.” [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing many stories, even bad ones, is essential; failure only occurs when you stop creating. **In simple terms:** Keep writing regardless of quality. Key Takeaway Never stop writing to avoid failure. Themes writing perseverance creativity learning Mood encouraging motivational Type inspirational creative When to use this quote - daily writing habit - workshop participation - self‑editing - publishing attempts Key Concepts practice growth mindset resilience Questions to Reflect On - How many drafts are needed? - What defines a 'bad' story? A Different Perspective Quantity without quality can waste time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail/) [Fail Stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail-stop-534627/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Hundred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hundred/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Short stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-stories/) [Short story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short-story/) [Stop Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-writing/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-bad-786649/) [Write Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-short-447488/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Write a short story every week. It's not possible to write 52 bad short stories in a row.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/write-a-short-story-every-week-it-s-not-possible-to-write-52-bad/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You only fail if you stop writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-only-fail-if-you-stop-writing/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You fail only if you stop writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-fail-only-if-you-stop-writing/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I mostly write short stories. They are best written in a continuous creative process. You have a feel of immediacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruskin-bond/i-mostly-write-short-stories-they-are-best-written-in-a-continuous/) [Ruskin Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruskin-bond/) > [I write short stories. I write every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-mustafa/i-write-short-stories-i-write-every-day/) [Isaiah Mustafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-mustafa/) > [All my writing-life people kept telling me that I should stop writing short stories and start writing novels: my agent, my Israeli publisher, my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/all-my-writing-life-people-kept-telling-me-that-i-should-stop-writing/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [You can't learn to write that way - by writing directly for the screen. Wait until you're 30. But in the meantime write 200…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-that-way-by-writing-directly-for-the-screen/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've written about 2,000 short stories; I've only published 300 and I feel I'm still learning. Any man who keeps working is not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-ve-written-about-2-000-short-stories-i-ve-only-published-300-and-i/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I used to take my short stories to girls' homes and read them to them. Can you imagine the reaction reading a short story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-used-to-take-my-short-stories-to-girls-homes-and-read-them-to-them/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Most of my short stories are fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/most-of-my-short-stories-are-fantasy/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I write short stories. They may appear big in size, but when you consider it, they're four or five novels in one... In return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-clavell/i-write-short-stories-they-may-appear-big-in-size-but-when-you/) [James Clavell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-clavell/) > [I write short stories and I write things here and there. I think as an actor, it's really important to at least attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-faist/i-write-short-stories-and-i-write-things-here-and-there-i-think-as-an/) [Mike Faist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-faist/) > [I decided to write short stories because they got rejected quicker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-b-cooney/i-decided-to-write-short-stories-because-they-got-rejected-quicker/) [Caroline B. Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-b-cooney/) > [I don't think I'd have the stamina, skill or ability to write a novel, but I'd love to write short stories and poetry, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-don-t-think-i-d-have-the-stamina-skill-or-ability-to-write-a-novel/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [Yeah, I used to write short stories at first, but once you work on something, you want to show people. My peers weren't interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giveon/yeah-i-used-to-write-short-stories-at-first-but-once-you-work-on/) [Giveon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giveon/) ## More by Ray Bradbury > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Remember, with writing, what you’re looking for is just one person to come up and tell you, 'I love you for what you do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/remember-with-writing-what-you-re-looking-for-is-just-one-person-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-in-college-it-s-a-very-bad-place-for-writers/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We're going to become the martians when we land there. When we explore and build communities, we become the martians. That's a wonderful destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-re-going-to-become-the-martians-when-we-land-there-when-we-explore/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. ... I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-wish-you-a-wrestling-match-with-your-creative-muse-that-will-last-a/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-spent-three-days-a-week-for-10-years-educating-myself-in-the-public/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [If we try to deny the darkness in our souls then we'll become completely dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-we-try-to-deny-the-darkness-in-our-souls-then-we-ll-become/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More Fail quotes > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Would you like a side of epic with that fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabi/would-you-like-a-side-of-epic-with-that-fail/) [Gabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabi/) > [Apologies are not pass/fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/apologies-are-not-pass-fail/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [My willingness to fail gives me the ability to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/my-willingness-to-fail-gives-me-the-ability-to-succeed/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [If you have a good idea you must explain it or you will fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/if-you-have-a-good-idea-you-must-explain-it-or-you-will-fail/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [What I want is to be willing to fail rather than stagnate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dickey/what-i-want-is-to-be-willing-to-fail-rather-than-stagnate/) [James Dickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dickey/) > [“If you die, I will find you. I will never leave you. I will never let you go. I will not let you fall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/if-you-die-i-will-find-you-i-will-never-leave-you-i-will-never-let/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [“The worst outcome of not trying is never getting to fail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-gary-smith/the-worst-outcome-of-not-trying-is-never-getting-to-fail/) [Phillip Gary Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-gary-smith/) > [“Many people fail in their career, business and relationship, and others get stuck because of their inability to make quality decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkem-mpamah/many-people-fail-in-their-career-business-and-relationship-and-others/) [Nkem Mpamah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkem-mpamah/) > [“Quitters don’t gain what they have started working on; waiters don’t start what they could have gained. What is common there is failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/quitters-don-t-gain-what-they-have-started-working-on-waiters-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [This is my most important role. If I fail at this, I fail at everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-wahlberg/this-is-my-most-important-role-if-i-fail-at-this-i-fail-at-everything/) [Mark Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-wahlberg/) > [Sunscreen is something that I think a lot of people fail to incorporate into their beauty routines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/sunscreen-is-something-that-i-think-a-lot-of-people-fail-to/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [Never give up on something just because you think you might fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-lee-reed-jr/never-give-up-on-something-just-because-you-think-you-might-fail/) [Jimmy Lee Reed Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-lee-reed-jr/) > [The main thing that endears the United Nations to member governments, and so enables it to survive, is its proven capacity to fail, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-cruise-o-brien/the-main-thing-that-endears-the-united-nations-to-member-governments/) [Conor Cruise O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-cruise-o-brien/) [Browse all 2,202 Fail quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fail/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you write a hundred short stories and they're all bad, that doesn't mean you've failed. 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