--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man I know who writes and aspires to be…" description: "\"A man I know who writes and aspires to be a novelist does very little reading, and he's not that successful. But I think it's because he's like the kid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/robert-cormier-6436_asking_a-man-i-know-who-writes-and-aspires-to-b_1306721.jpg" --- # A man I know who writes and aspires to be a novelist does… ![“A man I know who writes and aspires to be a novelist does very little reading, and he's not that successful. But I think it's because he's like the kid who wants to be a ballplayer and never goes to the ballpark or tries to hit a ball. So I'd say reading is the most important thing that I do…” quote by Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/robert-cormier-6436_asking_a-man-i-know-who-writes-and-aspires-to-b_1306721.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/robert-cormier-6436_asking_a-man-i-know-who-writes-and-aspires-to-b_1306721.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a0/robert-cormier-6436_asking_a-man-i-know-who-writes-and-aspires-to-b_1306721.jpg) > “A man I know who writes and aspires to be a novelist does very little reading, and he's not that successful. But I think it's because he's like the kid who wants to be a ballplayer and never goes to the ballpark or tries to hit a ball. So I'd say reading is the most important thing that I do, besides the actual writing. I'm always asking as I read, "How did the writer do this? Why do I suddenly have tears in my eyes? Why am I crying?"” [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reading provides the models and emotional insight that fuels effective writing, which practice alone cannot replace. **In simple terms:** Reading teaches writers how to evoke emotion and craft stories. Key Takeaway Read actively to improve your writing. Themes writing reading learning creativity skill development Mood reflective inspired thoughtful Type advice motivational educational When to use this quote - Writing workshops - personal writing practice - editing sessions - literary analysis Key Concepts Narrative technique emotional resonance authorial voice Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn reading insights into your own work? - What emotions do you seek to evoke in readers? A Different Perspective Reading without reflection may not translate into better writing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballparks/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Important things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-things/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Novelists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelists/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-important/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Tears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears/) [Tears in my eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tears-in-my-eyes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The novelist does not long to see the lion eat grass. He realizes that one and the same God created the wolf and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/the-novelist-does-not-long-to-see-the-lion-eat-grass-he-realizes-that/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [I am a born novelist, which does not happen all that often. There are people who try to write for a certain time, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-am-a-born-novelist-which-does-not-happen-all-that-often-there-are/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [ Charlie Huston, who showran the first season \[of Powers\], is a novelist, and likes to internalize fiction as a novelist does. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-michael-bendis/charlie-huston-who-showran-the-first-season-of-powers-is-a-novelist/) [Brian Michael Bendis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-michael-bendis/) > [The craft of the novelist does lie first of all in story-telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bowen/the-craft-of-the-novelist-does-lie-first-of-all-in-story-telling/) [Elizabeth Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bowen/) > [What a good novelist does with a throwaway that serves no fictional purpose is throw it away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/what-a-good-novelist-does-with-a-throwaway-that-serves-no-fictional/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) > [“It's not four days ago I find a bastard squatting here, asking me if I read books. Like he would jump me with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-s-not-four-days-ago-i-find-a-bastard-squatting-here-asking-me-if-i/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Reading has made me more open, has improved my understanding, and has made me a better artiste, but it also makes me live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/reading-has-made-me-more-open-has-improved-my-understanding-and-has/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [“She wrote me a letter (Joan,1941) asking,"How can I read it?,Its so hard." I told her to start at the beginning and read as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/she-wrote-me-a-letter-joan-1941-asking-how-can-i-read-it-its-so-hard/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [(Joan,1941) She wrote me a letter asking,"How can I read it?,Its so hard." I told her to start at the beginning and read as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-p-feynman/joan-1941-she-wrote-me-a-letter-asking-how-can-i-read-it-its-so-hard/) [Richard P. Feynman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-p-feynman/) > [I joined another circle and the leader gave us a little leaflet in very small print, asking us to read it carefully and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-smedley/i-joined-another-circle-and-the-leader-gave-us-a-little-leaflet-in/) [Agnes Smedley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-smedley/) > [I used to work for a non-profit organization where I worked as a mentor and a counselor to first-generation college student and they kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennine-cap-crucet/i-used-to-work-for-a-non-profit-organization-where-i-worked-as-a/) [Jennine Capó Crucet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennine-cap-crucet/) > [Let me say first that reading is my favorite pastime, bar none. If I couldn't read, I don't know what I'd do. But as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/let-me-say-first-that-reading-is-my-favorite-pastime-bar-none-if-i/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [“I love to read, but I'm not a reviewer. I'll leave the reviewing to someone else. Suffice it to say, if I'm reading your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-inman/i-love-to-read-but-i-m-not-a-reviewer-i-ll-leave-the-reviewing-to/) [John Inman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-inman/) > [He didn't say that. He was reading what was given to him in a speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-darman/he-didn-t-say-that-he-was-reading-what-was-given-to-him-in-a-speech/) [Richard Darman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-darman/) > [“Running records capture what young readers say and do while reading continuous text, usually short stories or books. Having taken the record teachers can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-clay/running-records-capture-what-young-readers-say-and-do-while-reading/) Marie Clay ## More by Robert Cormier > [“Eric Poole began with cats. Or, to be more exact, kittens.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/eric-poole-began-with-cats-or-to-be-more-exact-kittens/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [...pain reaches a certain point and does not get worse but remains in all its intensity and you can survive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/pain-reaches-a-certain-point-and-does-not-get-worse-but-remains-in/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [It came to me that hell would not be fire and smoke after all but arctic, everything white and frigid. Hell would be not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/it-came-to-me-that-hell-would-not-be-fire-and-smoke-after-all-but/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [I don't like to think in terms of writing ten or twelve pages a day. Usually I'm writing a scene, and it's always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/i-don-t-like-to-think-in-terms-of-writing-ten-or-twelve-pages-a-day/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [“Mr. Sinclair once asked the class to make a list of the ten most beautiful words in the English language, and the only word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/mr-sinclair-once-asked-the-class-to-make-a-list-of-the-ten-most/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [The earliest influence on me was the movies of the thirties when I was growing up. Those were stories. If you look at them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/the-earliest-influence-on-me-was-the-movies-of-the-thirties-when-i/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [“He was afraid that his body would come loose, all his bones spilling out like a building collapsing, like a picket fence clattering apart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/he-was-afraid-that-his-body-would-come-loose-all-his-bones-spilling/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [I have always had a sense that we are all pretty much alone in life, particularly in adolescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/i-have-always-had-a-sense-that-we-are-all-pretty-much-alone-in-life/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [I don't mean to be insolent. I'm truthful. I tell the truth and the truth sometimes hurts. For instance, you have bad breath, Lieutenant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/i-don-t-mean-to-be-insolent-i-m-truthful-i-tell-the-truth-and-the/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/the-beautiful-part-of-writing-is-that-you-don-t-have-to-get-it-right/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [That's what Archie did - built a house nobody could anticipate a need for, except himself, a house that was invisible to everyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/that-s-what-archie-did-built-a-house-nobody-could-anticipate-a-need/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [“They tell you to do your own thing but they don't mean it. They don't want you to do your thing, not unless it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/they-tell-you-to-do-your-own-thing-but-they-don-t-mean-it-they-don-t/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [I've had aunts and uncles who not only haven't read my books but could hardly believe that I was a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/i-ve-had-aunts-and-uncles-who-not-only-haven-t-read-my-books-but/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [You bring up your children to be self-reliant and independent and they double-cross you and become self-reliant and independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/you-bring-up-your-children-to-be-self-reliant-and-independent-and/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) > [“We just might make a quarterback out of you yet, you skinny little son of a bitch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cormier/we-just-might-make-a-quarterback-out-of-you-yet-you-skinny-little-son/) [Robert Cormier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) [Explore all 99 Robert Cormier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cormier/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man I know who writes and aspires to be a novelist does very little reading, and he's not that successful. 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