"'Made it as a writer'? I'm still wondering if I've made it as a writer. I've made it as a published writer of the type of SF that I want to write and read, but I'm still waiting for that big breakthrough"

This quote by Eric Brown speaks with the problem of attaining success as an author. In spite of having actually accomplished success as a published author of the type of science fiction he wants to compose and check out, he is still waiting on that large breakthrough. This suggests that he is still pursuing better success, which he is not yet satisfied with his current degree of success. It also suggests that he understands the trouble of attaining success as an author, which he is not taking his current success for granted. This quote is a pointer that success as an author is not easy, and that it takes effort and also dedication to accomplish it.