Meg Waite Clayton

Author of the international bestsellers The Postmistress of Paris, The Last Train to London, and 6 other novels

By

Professional Writer or Amateur?

I had the great pleasure of paneling with Richard Bausch – who is not only a wonderful writer, but also a kind and generous one – at the AWP conference last weekend. This morning, I just came across this quote on SheWrites (a site I commend to writers of all genders), and thought I would share it here.
“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” – Richard Bausch
The many things we as a panel talked about – on the dais as well as over dinner the night before and breakfast the morning of the panel – was the difference between published writers and unpublished ones: stubborn belief in your work far beyond the time any rational person would have given up, and a little luck. – Meg

Share:

Meg Waite Clayton


Meg Waite Clayton is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of nine novels, including the forthcoming TYPEWRITER BEACH (Harper, July 1, 2025), the Good Morning America Buzz pick and New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS, the National Jewish Book Award finalist THE LAST TRAIN TO LONDON, the Langum-Prize honored THE RACE FOR PARIS, and THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS, one of Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Essential Best Friend Novels of all time. Her novels have been published in 23 languages. She has also written more than 100 pieces for major newspapers, magazines, and public radio, mentors in the OpEd Project, and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the California bar. megwaiteclayton.com