“Writing to me is an advanced and slow form of reading. If you find a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
I found this quote scrawled on the inside cover of a secondhand paperback during a brutally cold Chicago winter. My career felt completely stalled at the time. I spent my evenings complaining about the derivative, uninspired manuscripts crossing my desk at a small publishing house. A stranger had written these exact words in faded blue ink, leaving them behind like a secret message just for me. Consequently, I stopped complaining and started drafting my own pages the very next morning. This profound realization ultimately stems from one of America’s greatest literary minds. Toni Morrison understood the deep frustration of a missing narrative. Therefore, her words continue to resonate with blocked creatives everywhere.
The Earliest Known Appearance
Toni Morrison delivered this iconic advice during a 1981 speech in Ohio. . Entertainment reporter Ellen Brown captured her exact words for The Cincinnati Enquirer. The article explored Morrison’s fascinating transition into her third distinct career phase. Morrison initially described writing as an advanced and slow form of reading. Furthermore, she explained her deep compulsion to shape language into something entirely new. She simply could not avoid writing the book once the idea began to float.
Therefore, the official origin firmly belongs to Morrison. The Gannett News Service quickly distributed this insightful article across the country. Consequently, readers in Hawaii and beyond discovered her brilliant perspective on creativity. Newspapers eagerly reprinted her profound thoughts on the artistic process.
Historical Context
The early 1980s represented a powerful era for Morrison. She had already published The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon to massive critical acclaim. However, she still recognized massive gaps in the American literary landscape. Publishers largely ignored the complex, authentic stories of Black Americans. Consequently, Morrison realized she needed to fill these cultural voids herself. She actively created the exact literature she desperately wanted to consume. . Similarly, her editorial work deeply informed her perspective on missing narratives. She spent years reviewing manuscripts that failed to capture her lived reality. As a result, she took personal responsibility for enriching the literary canon. She understood that waiting for systemic change rarely produces immediate artistic results. Therefore, she took the initiative to write the stories she craved.
The Evolution of the Quotation
Over the decades, the public slightly altered Morrison’s original phrasing. The 1981 newspaper article contained her full, nuanced thought about language. By 1994, the Chicago Tribune Magazine printed a heavily condensed version.
They removed the context about writing being a slow form of reading. Instead, they isolated the core instructional command about creating unwritten books. As a result, this punchy variation became the standard motivational slogan. Modern writers frequently share this shortened version across social media platforms. Interestingly, the abbreviated quote loses some of Morrison’s original poetic rhythm. The phrase “advanced and slow form of reading” offers incredible insight into her methodology. Nevertheless, the core empowering message remains completely intact today. It distills a complex artistic philosophy into a highly actionable command.
Benjamin Disraeli and Early Predecessors
Interestingly, several other legendary figures expressed highly similar sentiments throughout history. Future British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli famously claimed he wrote books whenever he wanted to read one. He wrote this witty remark in an 1833 letter to his sister Sarah. . Disraeli was recounting a humorous conversation about Lady Stepney’s recent publication. He cheekily admitted he never read other people’s books. Instead, he preferred to generate his own reading material.
While Disraeli’s tone leaned toward arrogance, the underlying concept mirrors Morrison’s advice. He recognized his own specific tastes and catered directly to them. Consequently, this historical parallel highlights a universal truth about the creative impulse. Authors naturally want to consume their own idealized narratives.
The Fantasy Masters Weigh In
The mid-twentieth century brought another fascinating parallel from the fantasy genre. C.S. Lewis told J.R.R. Tolkien something strikingly comparable about creating new worlds. Tolkien later recalled this conversation in a 1955 letter to a dedicated reader. . Lewis reportedly stated they must write the books they wanted to read themselves.
They both felt entirely unsatisfied with the current selection of fantasy literature. Therefore, they undertook the incredibly laborious task of building Middle-earth and Narnia. They refused to wait for other authors to invent the mythologies they desperately craved. As a result, their proactive approach birthed the modern fantasy genre. Their shared frustration ultimately fueled their legendary creative output.
Mickey Spillane’s Gritty Perspective
Crime novelist Mickey Spillane also echoed this exact philosophy in 1951. He unapologetically wrote the gritty, violent stories he could never find on bookstore shelves. Critics frequently derided his work as crude and unrefined. Even his own family members expressed distaste for his hardboiled detective novels. However, Spillane remained fiercely dedicated to his specific artistic vision. . He explicitly stated he wrote the kind of stuff he liked to read. If he did not enjoy the material, he simply would not write it. Consequently, he achieved massive commercial success by trusting his own reading preferences. Spillane proved that writing for yourself often attracts a massive, like-minded audience.
Cultural Impact on Marginalized Voices
Morrison’s directive fundamentally shifted how aspiring authors view the creative process. It transforms writing from a daunting chore into an act of personal fulfillment. You no longer write to please a faceless, intimidating audience. Instead, you write to satisfy your own specific intellectual curiosity. Consequently, this philosophy deeply empowers marginalized voices to share their unique experiences. If mainstream publishing ignores your demographic, you possess the power to change it. . Therefore, the quote serves as a powerful call to creative action. It eliminates the traditional gatekeepers from the initial drafting phase. You become your own primary target audience. By focusing on your own desires, you inevitably create more authentic, compelling art. Morrison gave permission to countless writers to trust their own specific tastes.
The Author’s Life and Unyielding Vision
Morrison embodied this proactive philosophy throughout her entire extraordinary life. She balanced single motherhood, a demanding editorial job, and her personal writing. Furthermore, she viewed literature as a vital tool for cultural survival. She refused to wait for others to legitimize her community’s complex stories. By actively writing these missing books, she claimed vital space for Black narratives. Her legacy proves the undeniable effectiveness of her famous 1981 advice. She did not just offer empty platitudes to aspiring writers. Instead, she lived this philosophy every single day of her remarkable career. She transformed her personal reading desires into Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpieces. Consequently, her lived experience validates the core truth of her famous quotation.
Echoes in Modern Literature
Today, you will find this quote adorning countless writing journals and workshop syllabi. Source Best-selling authors like Ann Patchett and Janet Fitch continually echo its core message. Fitch explicitly stated she always tries to create the book she wants to read. . She admitted her specific tastes required a strong stomach. Similarly, Patchett advised aspiring novelists to write the books they secretly crave. She published this excellent advice in a 2002 piece for The New York Times. The internet age has only amplified Morrison’s original, brilliant insight. Writers constantly remind each other to stop seeking external validation. Ultimately, the advice remains perfectly relevant for anyone facing a blank page. You hold the ultimate responsibility for bringing your favorite unwritten book into existence.
The Enduring Power of Self-Authorship
This remarkable concept continues to shape the modern publishing landscape. Source Self-publishing platforms now allow authors to bypass traditional gatekeepers entirely. Consequently, writers can instantly test Morrison’s theory in the real world. They can write highly niche stories and immediately find their specific audience. . Furthermore, this democratization of publishing perfectly aligns with her original vision. You no longer need a major publishing house to validate your creative desires. You simply need the discipline to sit down and do the work. Morrison understood that passion remains the ultimate driving force behind great art. Therefore, you must trust your own literary cravings above all else. Your unwritten book patiently waits for your unique voice.
In Summary
In conclusion, Toni Morrison undoubtedly deserves full credit for this brilliant 1981 quotation. Source She articulated a complex creative philosophy with incredible precision and grace. While other historical figures expressed similar ideas, Morrison perfected the delivery. . For example, Disraeli lacked her profound empathy, and Spillane lacked her literary depth. In contrast, Morrison managed to inspire generations of marginalized authors to claim their space. Consequently, her words transcend simple writing advice to become a life philosophy. You must never wait for someone else to build the world you desire. Instead, you must pick up the tools and build it yourself. Ultimately, your unique perspective represents a vital addition to the human story. Therefore, you must write the book.