--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most durable thing in writing is…" description: "\"The most durable thing in writing is style, and style is the most valuable investment a writer can make with his time. It pays off slowly, your agent w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/raymond-chandler-629_agents_the-most-durable-thing-in-writing-is-sty_602885.jpg" --- # The most durable thing in writing is style, and style is… ![“The most durable thing in writing is style, and style is the most valuable investment a writer can make with his time. It pays off slowly, your agent will sneer at it, your publisher will misunderstand it, and it will take people you have never heard of to convince them by slow degrees that the…” quote by Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/raymond-chandler-629_agents_the-most-durable-thing-in-writing-is-sty_602885.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/raymond-chandler-629_agents_the-most-durable-thing-in-writing-is-sty_602885.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8b/raymond-chandler-629_agents_the-most-durable-thing-in-writing-is-sty_602885.jpg) > “The most durable thing in writing is style, and style is the most valuable investment a writer can make with his time. It pays off slowly, your agent will sneer at it, your publisher will misunderstand it, and it will take people you have never heard of to convince them by slow degrees that the writer who puts his individual mark on the way he writes will always pay off.” [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing style is a lasting asset; investing time in developing a unique voice yields long‑term rewards despite delayed recognition. **In simple terms:** Style is a writer’s lasting investment. Key Takeaway Cultivate a distinctive voice early and trust its eventual payoff. Themes writing creativity career patience Mood reflective determined Type literary inspirational When to use this quote - novel drafting - blog development - author branding - editorial feedback Key Concepts voice brand identity long‑term value Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your style set you apart? - How can you measure style’s impact over time? A Different Perspective Recognition may be slow and misunderstood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Publishers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishers/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-style/) ## Related quotes > [The most durable thing in writing is style, and style is the single most valuable investment a writer can make with his time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/the-most-durable-thing-in-writing-is-style-and-style-is-the-single/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Style is the most valuable asset of the modern artist. That's probably why so many styles are reported lost or stolen each year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-holland/style-is-the-most-valuable-asset-of-the-modern-artist-that-s-probably/) [Brad Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-holland/) > [“Any writer who puts his words and thoughts out into the public is going to be criticized.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-moore/any-writer-who-puts-his-words-and-thoughts-out-into-the-public-is/) [Thomas Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-moore/) > [I'm a writer because I love reading. I love the conversation between a reader and a writer, and that it all takes place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/i-m-a-writer-because-i-love-reading-i-love-the-conversation-between-a/) [Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/) > [“Writing hasn’t changed a thing; when the writer puts down the pen, no matter how lucid or brutally honest his insights may have been,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-nelson/writing-hasn-t-changed-a-thing-when-the-writer-puts-down-the-pen-no/) [Maggie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-nelson/) > [“Depth is not something the writer puts into a book; it's something the reader takes out of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-carroll/depth-is-not-something-the-writer-puts-into-a-book-it-s-something-the/) Michael Carroll > [“When a writer puts words on paper, it is an intimate act. The reader hears your words in his voice and he becomes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-m-kelby/when-a-writer-puts-words-on-paper-it-is-an-intimate-act-the-reader/) [N.M. Kelby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-m-kelby/) > [“There's a part of a book that never lies. A writer puts his soul into a book. Every word is two sides of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-mills-black-out/there-s-a-part-of-a-book-that-never-lies-a-writer-puts-his-soul-into/) Sam Mills Black Out > [The most durable thing in writing is style. 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Make it up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-benioff/you-re-a-writer-make-it-up/) [David Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-benioff/) > [First person narrative is a very effective tool but you have to know as a writer how to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/first-person-narrative-is-a-very-effective-tool-but-you-have-to-know/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [A writer can make a fortune in America, but he can't make a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/a-writer-can-make-a-fortune-in-america-but-he-can-t-make-a-living/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) ## More by Raymond Chandler > [Television's perfect. 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