Quote by James A. Michener
I am always interested in why young people become writers, and from talking with many I have concluded that most do not want to be writers working eight and ten hours a day and accomplishing little; they want to have been writers, garnering the rewards of having completed a best-seller. They aspire to the rewards of writing but not to the travail.
Summary
This quote by John Gardner reflects on the motivations of young aspiring writers. Gardner suggests that many of them desire the status and recognition that comes with being a successful writer but are less interested in enduring the arduous process of writing itself. They strive for accolades and rewards, such as best-seller status, rather than investing the necessary time and effort into the actual craft. It highlights a disconnect between the romanticized notion of being a writer and the practical realities of the profession.