I had no idea, when I was writing early on, that my poems…
“I had no idea, when I was writing early on, that my poems would be published or read by anyone, never mind people I knew or would meet. I just wrote urgently - naïvely, I suppose, looking back.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Early in her career she wrote poems without expecting any audience, driven by urgency rather than fame.
In simple terms: She wrote out of need, not for recognition.
Write for the act, not the applause.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- first manuscript
- personal journaling
- workshop submissions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you write for yourself or for others?
- How does urgency shape your voice?
Assumes all writers seek fame, which isn’t universal.