--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there's another writer, like Ross…" description: "\"“If there's another writer, like Ross McDonald or Raymond Chandler, and all they're writing are mysteries, they won't be accepted,\" he said. \"And that'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/walter-mosley-2810_writers_if-there-s-another-writer-like-ross-mcdo_141412.png" --- # If there's another writer, like Ross McDonald or Raymond… ![“If there's another writer, like Ross McDonald or Raymond Chandler, and all they're writing are mysteries, they won't be accepted," he said. "And that's problematic. A lot of so-called literary novels are just not very good. They're not well-written, they're not well-thought-out. They have…” quote by Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/walter-mosley-2810_writers_if-there-s-another-writer-like-ross-mcdo_141412.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/walter-mosley-2810_writers_if-there-s-another-writer-like-ross-mcdo_141412.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/walter-mosley-2810_writers_if-there-s-another-writer-like-ross-mcdo_141412.png) > ““If there's another writer, like Ross McDonald or Raymond Chandler, and all they're writing are mysteries, they won't be accepted," he said. "And that's problematic. A lot of so-called literary novels are just not very good. They're not well-written, they're not well-thought-out. They have pyrotechnics of intelligence. "On the other hand, some of the best writers and speculative ideas are in science-fiction. The science-fiction genre is completely, completely segregated. And these people are writing good stuff. They're writing about where you're going, which means they're talking about where you are.”” [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Literary markets often marginalize genre writers, yet speculative fiction can explore profound societal questions. **In simple terms:** Genre writers are often excluded, but sci‑fi can be deep. Key Takeaway Value speculative ideas alongside literary merit. Themes literature genre bias speculative fiction creativity Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - publishing decisions - creative writing workshops - genre festivals Key Concepts cultural criticism market dynamics authorial identity Questions to Reflect On - Should literary value be defined by form or content? - How can genre writers gain broader acceptance? A Different Perspective Genre hierarchies can limit diverse voices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I came to writing mysteries through poetry and still think that a well-constructed mystery is very much like a well-constructed sonnet. Both are artificial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-maron/i-came-to-writing-mysteries-through-poetry-and-still-think-that-a/) [Margaret Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-maron/) > [Part of my motivation for writing mysteries for young people is that I loved mysteries when I was growing up, and now that I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/part-of-my-motivation-for-writing-mysteries-for-young-people-is-that/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [Writing mysteries lets me get away with murder. 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