You hear all this whining going on, 'Where are our great writers?' The thing I might feel doleful about is: Where are the readers?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Vidal suggests the lack of great writers is matched by a lack of readers who value them.
- In plain terms
- If people ask where the great writers are, ask where the readers are.
- What can you take from it?
- Writers depend on engaged readers.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you read enough?
- Who supports writers?
Another view
It overlooks systemic barriers to publishing.
More from Gore Vidal
There was more of a flow to my output of writing in the past, certainly. Having no contemporaries left means you cannot say, 'Well, so-and-so will like this,' …
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