Creative people Quote by Stephen King
““There are thousands of talented writers at work in America, and only a few of them (I think the number might be as low as five per cent) can support their families and themselves with their work. There’s always some grant money available, but it’s never enough to go around. As for government subsidies for creative writers, perish the thought. Tobacco subsidies, sure. Research grants to study the motility of unpreserved bull sperm, of course. Creative-writing subsidies, never. …America has never much revered her creative people; as a whole, we’re more interested in commemorative plates from the Franklin Mint and Internet greeting-cards. And if you don’t like it, it’s a case of tough titty, said the kitty, ‘cause that’s just the way things are. Americans are a lot more interested in TV quiz shows than in the short fiction of Raymond Carver.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: The New Yorker, 2015
Many talented writers struggle financially because the market and government support prioritize other fields over creative writing
In simple terms: Writers often cannot earn a living from their craft
Key Takeaway
Support writers through better pay and funding
Themes
art
economics
culture
government
media
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
observational
commentary
When to use this quote
- literary festivals
- grant applications
- publishing negotiations
- teaching writing
- crowdfunding
Key Concepts
creative economy
market dynamics
public policy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can society better value literary contributions?
- What alternative income models could writers pursue?
A Different Perspective
Limited market demand and low public valuation of literary art hinder sustainable careers
![“Billions of dollars of grant money [over $50 billion] are flowing into the pockets of those on the man-made global warming bandwagon. No man-made global warming, the money dries up. This is big money, make no mistake about it. Always follow the money trail and it tells a story.” quote by James Spann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9ef/james-spann-79728_bandwagon_billions-of-dollars-of-grant-money-over_2401615.jpg)
