---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter what, I'm never going to get an…"
description: "\"No matter what, I'm never going to get an anthology from an actual publisher, though I could always score another music anthology. But if this is going..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/richard-meltzer-31128_anthology_no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an_100201.png"
---

#  No matter what, I'm never going to get an anthology from…

![“No matter what, I'm never going to get an anthology from an actual publisher, though I could always score another music anthology. But if this is going to be a document of a multiplicity of my writings, it'll do. It feels like a birthday party or something.” quote by Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/richard-meltzer-31128_anthology_no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an_100201.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/richard-meltzer-31128_anthology_no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an_100201.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/richard-meltzer-31128_anthology_no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an_100201.png)

> “No matter what, I'm never going to get an anthology from an actual publisher, though I could always score another music anthology. But if this is going to be a document of a multiplicity of my writings, it'll do. It feels like a birthday party or something.”

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author accepts that mainstream publishing may reject his anthology, yet sees value in compiling his varied work as a personal celebration.

**In simple terms:** I'll self‑publish my writings.

Key Takeaway

Self‑validation outweighs external approval.

Themes

publishing creativity self‑expression

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

personal manifesto creative declaration

When to use this quote

- indie author workshops
- personal blog launches
- artist retrospectives

Key Concepts

independence artistic identity

Practical Applications

- create a self‑published collection
- use the project as a morale boost

Questions to Reflect On

- What does this anthology represent for you?
- How might you market it without a publisher?

A Different Perspective

Limited distribution may reduce audience reach and financial return.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Anthology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthology/) [Anthology Actual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthology-actual-1216815/) [Anthology Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthology-going-1216814/) [Birthday party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birthday-party/) [Documents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/documents/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Going Anthology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-anthology-1216816/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Multiplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multiplicity/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Anthology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-anthology-1216817/) [No matter what](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-matter-what/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Publishers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishers/) [Score](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/score/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [If I looked at some of these pieces as if this project was not spoken-word but just short anthology, I probably would have fussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/if-i-looked-at-some-of-these-pieces-as-if-this-project-was-not-spoken/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [The Psalms, the anthology of the hymns of Israel, are still used by Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/the-psalms-the-anthology-of-the-hymns-of-israel-are-still-used-by/)

[Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/)

> [The original Greek meaning of the word anthology is a collection or gathering of flowers in bloom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-garmey/the-original-greek-meaning-of-the-word-anthology-is-a-collection-or/)

[Jane Garmey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-garmey/)

> [ I've never heard of that anthology \[Vance Randolph, Pissing in the Snow\], but you can be sure I'll buy it now. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-ve-never-heard-of-that-anthology-vance-randolph-pissing-in-the-snow/)

[Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/)

> [I think as long as the standard of quality, the story-telling, film-making, acting etc. etc. remains consistent, then you've got a good change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-think-as-long-as-the-standard-of-quality-the-story-telling-film/)

[Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/)

> [When I stand in a library where is all the recorded wit of the world, but none of the recording, a mere accumulated, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-i-stand-in-a-library-where-is-all-the-recorded-wit-of-the-world/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Cross-pollination and "contamination" is really important to the health of fiction, and sometimes it's a literal conversation, too, in that writers who might never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/cross-pollination-and-contamination-is-really-important-to-the-health/)

[Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/)

> [After my grandfather died I went down to the basement of my family house where my family kept books, anthologies and things and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/after-my-grandfather-died-i-went-down-to-the-basement-of-my-family/)

[Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/)

> [You apply the skills you use to produce your own book to make an anthology. Shaping. Rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-apply-the-skills-you-use-to-produce-your-own-book-to-make-an/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I am also working on a couple of short stories for anthologies. This is new to me and Im enjoying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/i-am-also-working-on-a-couple-of-short-stories-for-anthologies-this/)

[Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/)

> [I once was asked to contribute to a mushroom poem anthology. I didn't have anything, and so instead ended up writing the introduction. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/i-once-was-asked-to-contribute-to-a-mushroom-poem-anthology-i-didn-t/)

[Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/)

> [Way back in 1989, I got lucky with my first published story when it was selected for the Journey Prize anthology. Then I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bergen/way-back-in-1989-i-got-lucky-with-my-first-published-story-when-it/)

[David Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bergen/)

> [I regret that there aren't more short stories in other magazines. But in a certain way, I think the disappearance of the short-story template…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorin-stein/i-regret-that-there-aren-t-more-short-stories-in-other-magazines-but/)

[Lorin Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorin-stein/)

> [I had the idea to do an anthology about instrument-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toop/i-had-the-idea-to-do-an-anthology-about-instrument-making/)

[David Toop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-toop/)

> [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/)

[John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/)

## More by Richard Meltzer

> [When you make it to eighty-four, then you're ready to sit back and think universal and systematic. I was a philosophy major a long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/when-you-make-it-to-eighty-four-then-you-re-ready-to-sit-back-and/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [Basically, I've reached the point where I've lost any direct relationship to any of the editors I used to have. I suspect I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/basically-i-ve-reached-the-point-where-i-ve-lost-any-direct/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [I mean, what's thematic? How to put it? Going back to, like, 1980, when I started writing poetry. Language itself became an issue. I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/i-mean-what-s-thematic-how-to-put-it-going-back-to-like-1980-when-i/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [But the poetry side is what appeals more to me today. Metaphor, just absurd linkages and coming up with categories, labeling, taxonomy, and I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/but-the-poetry-side-is-what-appeals-more-to-me-today-metaphor-just/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [Those which might have some depth are corny enough to be hokey, and almost hokey enough to be folky, since folky is already so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/those-which-might-have-some-depth-are-corny-enough-to-be-hokey-and/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [My issues with it are that simply in terms of my own work. It represents 30 years of output. And some of the things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/my-issues-with-it-are-that-simply-in-terms-of-my-own-work-it/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [“Culture is a vulture but there's also vulture culture and cultured vultures and cultured yougurt (cherry, peach, pear, pineapple, grape, vanilla, plain, cherry vanilla,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/culture-is-a-vulture-but-there-s-also-vulture-culture-and-cultured/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [If I looked at some of these pieces as if this project was not spoken-word but just short anthology, I probably would have fussed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/if-i-looked-at-some-of-these-pieces-as-if-this-project-was-not-spoken/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [One of the things about me is that I actually had marginally middle-class living from writing. For years and years, I actually wrote so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/one-of-the-things-about-me-is-that-i-actually-had-marginally-middle/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [If I'm very drunk, I can improvise. But generally speaking, no. Generally speaking, almost all of my work is material that was first done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/if-i-m-very-drunk-i-can-improvise-but-generally-speaking-no-generally/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [And the whole online thing is like, I just, that to me is a world that doesn't exist. It's not something you could touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/and-the-whole-online-thing-is-like-i-just-that-to-me-is-a-world-that/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [Basically, when I hear it now, I don't recognize myself directly in a lot of cases. I was expecting more menace. And the fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/basically-when-i-hear-it-now-i-don-t-recognize-myself-directly-in-a/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [I didn't mind writing incoherently, up until about 1980, occasionally. But after that, I decided, might as well be articulate. And I found, though,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/i-didn-t-mind-writing-incoherently-up-until-about-1980-occasionally/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [A lot of things appearing under my byline were written in one draft. But when I started to write poetry, I started getting fussy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/a-lot-of-things-appearing-under-my-byline-were-written-in-one-draft/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

> [The first five years as a writer, I didn't know how to write at all. I couldn't write my way out of a white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/the-first-five-years-as-a-writer-i-didn-t-know-how-to-write-at-all-i/)

[Richard Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

[Explore all 16 Richard Meltzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/)

## More Anthology quotes

> [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/)

[John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/)

> [I had the idea to do an anthology about instrument-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toop/i-had-the-idea-to-do-an-anthology-about-instrument-making/)

[David Toop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-toop/)

> [I regret that there aren't more short stories in other magazines. But in a certain way, I think the disappearance of the short-story template…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorin-stein/i-regret-that-there-aren-t-more-short-stories-in-other-magazines-but/)

[Lorin Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorin-stein/)

> [Way back in 1989, I got lucky with my first published story when it was selected for the Journey Prize anthology. Then I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bergen/way-back-in-1989-i-got-lucky-with-my-first-published-story-when-it/)

[David Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bergen/)

> [I once was asked to contribute to a mushroom poem anthology. I didn't have anything, and so instead ended up writing the introduction. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-hirshfield/i-once-was-asked-to-contribute-to-a-mushroom-poem-anthology-i-didn-t/)

[Jane Hirshfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-hirshfield/)

> [I am also working on a couple of short stories for anthologies. This is new to me and Im enjoying it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-guest/i-am-also-working-on-a-couple-of-short-stories-for-anthologies-this/)

[Judith Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-guest/)

> [You apply the skills you use to produce your own book to make an anthology. Shaping. Rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-apply-the-skills-you-use-to-produce-your-own-book-to-make-an/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [After my grandfather died I went down to the basement of my family house where my family kept books, anthologies and things and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/after-my-grandfather-died-i-went-down-to-the-basement-of-my-family/)

[Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/)

> [Cross-pollination and "contamination" is really important to the health of fiction, and sometimes it's a literal conversation, too, in that writers who might never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/cross-pollination-and-contamination-is-really-important-to-the-health/)

[Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/)

> [When I stand in a library where is all the recorded wit of the world, but none of the recording, a mere accumulated, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/when-i-stand-in-a-library-where-is-all-the-recorded-wit-of-the-world/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I think as long as the standard of quality, the story-telling, film-making, acting etc. etc. remains consistent, then you've got a good change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-marshall/i-think-as-long-as-the-standard-of-quality-the-story-telling-film/)

[Neil Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-marshall/)

> [ I've never heard of that anthology \[Vance Randolph, Pissing in the Snow\], but you can be sure I'll buy it now. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-ve-never-heard-of-that-anthology-vance-randolph-pissing-in-the-snow/)

[Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/)

> [The original Greek meaning of the word anthology is a collection or gathering of flowers in bloom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-garmey/the-original-greek-meaning-of-the-word-anthology-is-a-collection-or/)

[Jane Garmey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-garmey/)

> [The Psalms, the anthology of the hymns of Israel, are still used by Christians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/the-psalms-the-anthology-of-the-hymns-of-israel-are-still-used-by/)

[Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/)

> [A handful of sand is an anthology of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccord/a-handful-of-sand-is-an-anthology-of-the-universe/)

[David McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccord/)

[Browse all 129 Anthology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anthology/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "No matter what, I'm never going to get an anthology from an actual publisher, though I could always score another music anthology. But if this is going to be a document of a multiplicity of my writings, it'll do. It feels like a birthday party or something.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Meltzer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an-anthology-from-an-actual/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anthology"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an-anthology-from-an-actual/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/richard-meltzer-31128_anthology_no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an_100201.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/richard-meltzer-31128_anthology_no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an_100201.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c7/richard-meltzer-31128_anthology_no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an_100201.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“No matter what, I'm never going to get an anthology from an actual publisher, though I could always score…” — Richard Meltzer",
                "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": "Richard Meltzer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-meltzer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "No matter what, I'm never going...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an-anthology-from-an-actual/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-meltzer/no-matter-what-i-m-never-going-to-get-an-anthology-from-an-actual/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
