--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I hadn't been able to get my first…" description: "\"If I hadn't been able to get my first book published, I am not sure what I would have done.\" — Sara Sheridan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/sara-sheridan-1032_able_if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-bo_1193834.png" --- # If I hadn't been able to get my first book published, I am… ![“If I hadn't been able to get my first book published, I am not sure what I would have done.” quote by Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/sara-sheridan-1032_able_if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-bo_1193834.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/sara-sheridan-1032_able_if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-bo_1193834.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/sara-sheridan-1032_able_if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-bo_1193834.png) > “If I hadn't been able to get my first book published, I am not sure what I would have done.” [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Publishing the first book was pivotal; without it, life’s direction is uncertain. **In simple terms:** First success defines path. Key Takeaway Pursue initial breakthroughs. Themes career confidence uncertainty Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - writing - entrepreneurship - personal development Key Concepts self‑realization career trajectory Questions to Reflect On - What would you do without that success? - How to handle setbacks? A Different Perspective May cause over‑reliance on early wins. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Able Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-book-3553128/) [Am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/am/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Published](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-published-1138584/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Hadn Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hadn-able-2461380/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Published](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published/) [Published Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published-sure-3553127/) [Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [Could anyone fail to be depressed by a book he or she has published? Don't we always outgrow them the moment the last page…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-ritter-beard/could-anyone-fail-to-be-depressed-by-a-book-he-or-she-has-published/) [Mary Ritter Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-ritter-beard/) > [I continually get more information about a subject after the book has been published.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-tomalin/i-continually-get-more-information-about-a-subject-after-the-book-has/) [Claire Tomalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-tomalin/) > [Having a book published whenever is a huge honor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/having-a-book-published-whenever-is-a-huge-honor/) [Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/) > [It was more exciting to get that first book published, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mccloskey/it-was-more-exciting-to-get-that-first-book-published-i-think/) [Robert McCloskey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mccloskey/) > [A manuscript not submitted is a book not published.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-poynter/a-manuscript-not-submitted-is-a-book-not-published/) [Dan Poynter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-poynter/) > [The point is that if a book that had been published three years ago started to sell twice as many all of a sudden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-point-is-that-if-a-book-that-had-been-published-three-years-ago/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You won't be able to put this book down!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-mcgunnigle/you-won-t-be-able-to-put-this-book-down/) [Nicola McGunnigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-mcgunnigle/) > [I don't think I would have been able to exist in any kind of joyful, peaceful way if I hadn't been able to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-don-t-think-i-would-have-been-able-to-exist-in-any-kind-of-joyful/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [I'd lived through World War II and hadn't been able to wait to join the army as soon as I turned 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-d-lived-through-world-war-ii-and-hadn-t-been-able-to-wait-to-join/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [“I was dead, and I hadn't even been able to attend my own funeral.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/i-was-dead-and-i-hadn-t-even-been-able-to-attend-my-own-funeral/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [“He'd never admit it to these fools, but he hadn't been able to get it up for years.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-mcdonald/he-d-never-admit-it-to-these-fools-but-he-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-it/) [L.J. McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-mcdonald/) > [I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't been able to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/i-don-t-know-what-would-have-happened-to-me-if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Now that I've had a book published, it is quite validating, but a bit embarrassing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-mcgregor/now-that-i-ve-had-a-book-published-it-is-quite-validating-but-a-bit/) [Jon McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-mcgregor/) > [Certainly one of the surprising truths of having a book published is realizing that your book is as open to interpretation as an abstract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marisha-pessl/certainly-one-of-the-surprising-truths-of-having-a-book-published-is/) [Marisha Pessl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marisha-pessl/) > [For those of you haven't read the book, it's being published tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frost/for-those-of-you-haven-t-read-the-book-it-s-being-published-tomorrow/) [David Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frost/) ## More by Sara Sheridan > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“Kissing her is like drinking salted water, he thinks. His thirst only increases.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/kissing-her-is-like-drinking-salted-water-he-thinks-his-thirst-only/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“We are in the middle of the biggest revolution in reading and writing since the advent of the Gutenberg press.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/we-are-in-the-middle-of-the-biggest-revolution-in-reading-and-writing/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [The sky was a sparkling succession of black diamonds on black velvet made crystal clear by the blackout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-sky-was-a-sparkling-succession-of-black-diamonds-on-black-velvet/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“The bonds between a family are strange indeed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-bonds-between-a-family-are-strange-indeed/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/history-is-full-of-blank-spaces-but-good-stories-invariably-are-not/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“The mass communications that could enable our politics for good have instead turned it into a bland conglomeration of stinted opinion cloaked in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-mass-communications-that-could-enable-our-politics-for-good-have/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [I've found myself moved by letters and diaries in archives as well as trashy, summer blockbusters. It's possible to make a connection with any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/i-ve-found-myself-moved-by-letters-and-diaries-in-archives-as-well-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Grabbing readers by the imagination is a writer's job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/grabbing-readers-by-the-imagination-is-a-writer-s-job/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [As an historical novelist - there are few jobs more retrospective. I dumped science at an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/as-an-historical-novelist-there-are-few-jobs-more-retrospective-i/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“Crime writers, I've noticed, can be jumpy. They live in a world where there are murderers on the loose and they haven't been caught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/crime-writers-i-ve-noticed-can-be-jumpy-they-live-in-a-world-where/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“The writing talent of Edinburgh is textured - we have poets, novelists, non-fiction writers, dramatists and more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/the-writing-talent-of-edinburgh-is-textured-we-have-poets-novelists/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [“Communism,” I observed, “is a pile of wank.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/communism-i-observed-is-a-pile-of-wank/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [A word out of place or an interesting choice of vocabulary can spawn a whole character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/a-word-out-of-place-or-an-interesting-choice-of-vocabulary-can-spawn/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) [Explore all 305 Sara Sheridan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I hadn't been able to get my first book published, I am not sure what I would have done.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sara Sheridan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-book-published-i-am-not-sure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-book-published-i-am-not-sure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/sara-sheridan-1032_able_if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-bo_1193834.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/sara-sheridan-1032_able_if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-bo_1193834.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/sara-sheridan-1032_able_if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-bo_1193834.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I hadn't been able to get my first book published, I am not sure what I would have done.” — Sara Sheridan", "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": "Sara Sheridan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I hadn't been able to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-book-published-i-am-not-sure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/if-i-hadn-t-been-able-to-get-my-first-book-published-i-am-not-sure/#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 } } ] } ```