--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is an author's primary duty to…" description: "\"It is an author's primary duty to entertain. Sling out all the philosophical terms, but keep the reader turning the page.\" — Susan Howatch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/susan-howatch-18476_books_it-is-an-author-s-primary-duty-to-entert_3072424.jpg" --- # It is an author's primary duty to entertain. Sling out all… ![“It is an author's primary duty to entertain. Sling out all the philosophical terms, but keep the reader turning the page.” quote by Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/susan-howatch-18476_books_it-is-an-author-s-primary-duty-to-entert_3072424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/susan-howatch-18476_books_it-is-an-author-s-primary-duty-to-entert_3072424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/susan-howatch-18476_books_it-is-an-author-s-primary-duty-to-entert_3072424.jpg) > “It is an author's primary duty to entertain. Sling out all the philosophical terms, but keep the reader turning the page.” [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. An author must prioritize engaging storytelling over abstract theory to retain readers' interest. **In simple terms:** Writers should keep stories entertaining, not overly philosophical. Key Takeaway Focus on narrative drive. Themes writing entertainment reader engagement Mood creative thoughtful Type advice instructional When to use this quote - novel writing - short stories - screenwriting - blogging - teaching writing Key Concepts storytelling narrative pacing Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance depth and entertainment? - What techniques keep readers turning pages? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on entertainment may sacrifice depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Author Primary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-primary-5203776/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Duty Entertain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty-entertain-1595674/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Primaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primaries/) [Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader/) [Reader Turning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reader-turning-5203777/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Turning Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turning-page-301999/) [Turning the page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turning-the-page/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [The thing that I like about magazines, paper magazines, and papers in any kind of tangible format is the surprise factor of turning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-millman/the-thing-that-i-like-about-magazines-paper-magazines-and-papers-in/) [Debbie Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-millman/) > [There comes a day when turning the page is the best feeling in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zayn-malik/there-comes-a-day-when-turning-the-page-is-the-best-feeling-in-the/) [Zayn Malik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zayn-malik/) > [How can you not care?" 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It must flow seamlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/transitions-are-critically-important-i-want-the-reader-to-turn-the/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“Rather than turning the page, it's much easier to just throw the book away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/rather-than-turning-the-page-it-s-much-easier-to-just-throw-the-book/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Sometimes you have to decide whether it's worth turning the page, or whether it's time to close the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-decide-whether-it-s-worth-turning-the-page-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There comes a day when you realize turning the page is the best feeling in the world, becasuse you realize there is so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-comes-a-day-when-you-realize-turning-the-page-is-the-best-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing can compare to the feeling evoked by turning the page in a great book.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aneta-cruz/nothing-can-compare-to-the-feeling-evoked-by-turning-the-page-in-a/) [Aneta Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aneta-cruz/) > [“There's nothing quite like turning the page.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-carter/there-s-nothing-quite-like-turning-the-page/) [Casey Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-carter/) > [There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page and closing the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-comes-a-time-when-you-have-to-choose-between-turning-the-page-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There comes a day when you realize turning the page is the best feeling in the world, because you realize there's so much more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-direction/there-comes-a-day-when-you-realize-turning-the-page-is-the-best/) [One Direction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-direction/) > [There comes a time when you have to choose between turning the page or closing the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-comes-a-time-when-you-have-to-choose-between-turning-the-page/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Over-dramatically turning the page on a test so people know you're ahead of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/over-dramatically-turning-the-page-on-a-test-so-people-know-you-re/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Susan Howatch > [It was tremendously exciting to discover that science was not destroying religion, as people popularly believe, but that it could cast light on theism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/it-was-tremendously-exciting-to-discover-that-science-was-not/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [“Think of me as the porter . . . and consider the possiblity that life might be less exhausting if you unloaded some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/think-of-me-as-the-porter-and-consider-the-possiblity-that-life-might/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [I can't complain about the way I've been marketed because it's been so successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/i-can-t-complain-about-the-way-i-ve-been-marketed-because-it-s-been/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [“One wonders what would happen in a society where there were no rules to break. Doubtlessly everyone would quickly die of boredom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/one-wonders-what-would-happen-in-a-society-where-there-were-no-rules/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [if you pursue the truth far enough you always wind up in the land of paradox. 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They wrap themselves in formality, they withdraw behind veil after veil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/no-race-on-earth-is-as-clever-at-being-strangers-as-the-british-they/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [If you are a Christian, you want to give as much as you can away. It sounds pious, but it's not a duty; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/if-you-are-a-christian-you-want-to-give-as-much-as-you-can-away-it/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [“No demon can withstand the power of Christ,” said my father, repeating the words he had used long ago, and what he meant was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/no-demon-can-withstand-the-power-of-christ-said-my-father-repeating/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [“The gifts of the Spirit can be recognized by their fruits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/the-gifts-of-the-spirit-can-be-recognized-by-their-fruits/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [“don’t play bridge but I’m going to learn. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/don-t-play-bridge-but-i-m-going-to-learn-the/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [“The organist was almost at the end of the anthem’s long introduction, and as the crescendo increases the cathedral began to glitter before my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/the-organist-was-almost-at-the-end-of-the-anthem-s-long-introduction/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [“So many people fail to realise that the greatest journey one can ever take is the journey to the very centre of one’s being.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/so-many-people-fail-to-realise-that-the-greatest-journey-one-can-ever/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) > [“My first recommendation...will be that you should have a holiday. You are worn out by all your unhappiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-howatch/my-first-recommendation-will-be-that-you-should-have-a-holiday-you/) [Susan Howatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) [Explore all 34 Susan Howatch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-howatch/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. 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