Best sellers Quote by W. Somerset Maugham
“No one can write a best seller by trying to. He must write with complete sincerity; the clichés that make you laugh, the hackneyed characters, the well-worn situations, the commonplace story that excites your derision, seem neither hackneyed, well worn nor commonplace to him. ... The conclusion is obvious: you cannot write anything that will convince unless you are yourself convinced. The best seller sells because he writes with his heart's blood.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Writing, 1930s
Authentic writing stems from genuine conviction; forced attempts produce cliché and lack impact.
In simple terms: Write from the heart, not from trying to please.
Key Takeaway
Write sincerely to create compelling work.
Themes
authenticity
creativity
conviction
literature
writing process
Mood
inspirational
thoughtful
encouraging
Type
advice
literary
When to use this quote
- novel writing
- screenplay drafting
- personal journaling
- blog creation
- teaching writing
Key Concepts
sincerity
artistic integrity
emotional truth
creative inspiration
Questions to Reflect On
- What does sincerity look like in your work?
- How can you balance originality with audience expectations?
A Different Perspective
Market pressures can push writers toward formulaic content, undermining authenticity.
![“[T]he young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself which alone can make good writing because only that is worth writing about, worth the agony and the sweat. He must learn them again. He must teach himself that the basest of all things is…” quote by William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5e6/william-faulkner-306_compassion_t-he-young-man-or-woman-writing-today-ha_1217428.jpg)
