As readers, we often put authors on a pedestal, imagining them as confident masters of their craft, churning out beloved novels without a hint of doubt. But the truth? Many famous authors have a complicated relationship with their work—just like the rest of us! From iconic novels to celebrated characters, some of these creators have publicly admitted they aren’t the biggest fans of their creations. Whether it’s due to frustration during the writing process, the pressure of success, or simply changing tastes, writers can be their own worst critics. In fact, some of the most famous books in the world have been disowned by the very people who penned them.
So, let’s dive into the surprising world of author regret. Here are seven famous authors who hated their own work!
1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes
We can’t talk about iconic characters without mentioning Sherlock Holmes. The eccentric detective is one of the most beloved characters in literary history, but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wasn’t a fan of his own creation. In fact, Doyle was so tired of writing about Holmes that he killed him off in the story “The Final Problem” (1893), throwing Holmes off a waterfall during a battle with his nemesis, Moriarty.
Doyle felt the detective stories were distracting him from what he considered more important historical novels. He wanted to move on to what he saw as "real" literature. After Holmes’ death, however, public outcry was so intense that Doyle was practically forced to bring him back to life in The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902). The demand for more Holmes adventures was inescapable.
Even though the public adored the detective, Doyle described Holmes as “a machine rather than a man” and found him increasingly irritating. As much as Holmes’ cleverness won over readers, Doyle wished he could move on—but Holmes wasn’t going anywhere. Despite his feelings, he continued writing Holmes stories to appease fans, even if he found the character burdensome.
2. Stephen King and Carrie
Carrie was Stephen King’s first published novel and the book that launched his long and successful career. But would you believe that King almost abandoned the story entirely? He was so frustrated with the first draft that he tossed it in the trash! Thankfully, his wife, Tabitha, retrieved it and encouraged him to finish it.
Though Carrie became a major success, turning King into a household name, he later admitted that he isn’t particularly fond of it. In fact, he’s referred to the novel as “a clumsy period piece,” and he finds rereading it uncomfortable. King has been open about feeling that it lacks the polish of his later work and that it doesn’t represent his best writing. Yet, it remains one of his most famous and beloved books, proving that even a piece you’re not sure about can resonate with the world.
3. Anthony Burgess and A Clockwork Orange
The Clockwork Orange is hailed as one of the greatest dystopian novels ever written, but Anthony Burgess had mixed feelings about it. He wrote it in just a few weeks, mainly for money, and later grew frustrated with how the book came to overshadow his other works. Burgess felt trapped by its success and even claimed that the novel’s reputation became a "millstone" around his neck.
To make matters worse, Burgess wasn’t happy with Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 film adaptation of the novel, which excluded the final chapter. In the original book, the protagonist, Alex, begins to recognize the consequences of his violent behavior. But Kubrick’s version ends on a darker, more ambiguous note, which Burgess disliked. He felt that the novel’s message was misunderstood and expressed regret that the book had become synonymous with glorified violence.
For Burgess, A Clockwork Orange wasn’t just a book that he was dissatisfied with—it became a symbol of how his work had spiraled beyond his control.
4.Gustave Flaubert and Madame Bovary
Madame Bovary is often considered one of the greatest novels of all time, but Gustave Flaubert wasn’t fond of it. In fact, Flaubert described the writing process as grueling and once said, “I was bored stiff writing it.” Flaubert’s perfectionism made the work agonizing for him. He labored over every sentence, often spending days or weeks on a single paragraph. His exacting standards meant that he didn’t enjoy the process at all.
Even after the novel became a critical success, Flaubert maintained a dislike for it, feeling drained by the experience. While the novel’s rich psychological depth was praised, Flaubert wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about having created a book that caused him so much personal frustration.
5. J.K. Rowling and The Cuckoo’s Calling
After becoming a literary sensation with the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling tried her hand at a new genre: crime fiction. She published The Cuckoo’s Calling in 2013 under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, enjoying the anonymity and freedom of writing without the weight of her famous name.
For a brief period, Rowling was able to escape the shadow of Harry Potter and receive feedback on her crime novel without the high expectations that followed her every move. However, her true identity as the author was eventually leaked, and Rowling expressed disappointment. She felt that the experience of writing under a pen name had been “ruined” and that the focus shifted from the story to the fact that J.K. Rowling had written it.
While she enjoyed the process of creating The Cuckoo’s Calling, the revelation of her authorship brought back all the pressure and scrutiny that she had hoped to leave behind. It’s a reminder that sometimes the story itself isn’t the problem—sometimes it’s the baggage that comes with being a famous author.
6. F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby
Today, The Great Gatsby is considered one of the greatest American novels ever written. But during his lifetime, F. Scott Fitzgerald didn’t think much of it. When the novel was published in 1925, it received mixed reviews and sold poorly, leading Fitzgerald to view it as a failure.
Fitzgerald felt the novel hadn’t lived up to his own expectations, and he was disappointed by its initial reception. It wasn’t until after his death that The Great Gatsby gained the recognition it has today, becoming a staple in high school curricula and a cultural touchstone. Fitzgerald never lived to see its lasting impact, believing instead that it was one of his lesser works.
This shows that initial reactions don’t always determine a book’s ultimate place in history. Sometimes, a story just needs time to find its audience.
7. Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird
Though To Kill a Mockingbird is beloved worldwide, Harper Lee had a complicated relationship with it. Lee famously resisted the public eye, but her dissatisfaction went beyond fame—she felt that the novel was incomplete. After its success, she was asked repeatedly when she would write another book, but she often expressed doubt that she could live up to the impact of Mockingbird.
In private conversations, Lee suggested that she found Mockingbird too simple and that she didn’t fully explore the themes she wanted to tackle. Her struggles with Go Set a Watchman—a draft of Mockingbird—illustrated her dissatisfaction with her ability to follow up or develop her ideas further. For Lee, Mockingbird was an imperfect representation of the story she wanted to tell, even though it became a cherished literary classic.
So, here you have it, 7 authors who hated their own work. Have you ever created something that you weren’t sure about, only to find others loved it? Or maybe you’ve got a project you’re still debating whether to finish? Let’s chat in the comments! What’s your take on loving—or not loving—what you create?