--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing is like a lump of coal. Put it…" description: "\"“Writing is like a lump of coal. Put it under enough pressure and polish it enough and you might just end up with a diamond. Otherwise, you can burn it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/a-j-dalton-74818_humour_writing-is-like-a-lump-of-coal-put-it-un_2056222.jpg" --- # Writing is like a lump of coal. Put it under enough… ![“Writing is like a lump of coal. Put it under enough pressure and polish it enough and you might just end up with a diamond. Otherwise, you can burn it to keep warm.” quote by A.J. Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/a-j-dalton-74818_humour_writing-is-like-a-lump-of-coal-put-it-un_2056222.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/a-j-dalton-74818_humour_writing-is-like-a-lump-of-coal-put-it-un_2056222.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b7/a-j-dalton-74818_humour_writing-is-like-a-lump-of-coal-put-it-un_2056222.jpg) > ““Writing is like a lump of coal. Put it under enough pressure and polish it enough and you might just end up with a diamond. Otherwise, you can burn it to keep warm.”” [A.J. Dalton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-dalton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and pressure can transform raw material into something valuable, but without care it can be wasted. **In simple terms:** Pressure can create diamonds or waste material. Key Takeaway Apply pressure wisely to create value. Themes creativity effort transformation Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - writing projects - creative deadlines - skill development Key Concepts alchemy value creation risk management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance pressure and care? - What safeguards prevent waste? A Different Perspective Too much pressure can cause burnout or loss of quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burn Warm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burn-warm-319371/) [Diamond Burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diamond-burn-3899848/) [End Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-diamond-3899849/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-advice/) [Writing Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-like/) ## Related quotes > [“To day we made the grand experiment of burning the diamond and certainly the phenomena presented were extremely beautiful and interesting... 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Yeah... that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heena-rathore-p/writing-is-like-surfing-on-a-wild-sea-in-the-middle-of-a-moonless/) [Heena Rathore P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heena-rathore-p/) > [The only certainty about writing and trying to be a writer is that it has to be done, not dreamed of or planned and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-frame/the-only-certainty-about-writing-and-trying-to-be-a-writer-is-that-it/) [Janet Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-frame/) > [“Writing is like pulling teeth out of your penis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/writing-is-like-pulling-teeth-out-of-your-penis/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“Writing is like a charcoal painting, a black and white story”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mcdonald/writing-is-like-a-charcoal-painting-a-black-and-white-story/) [Dave McDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mcdonald/) > [Writing is like a sport. 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Sometimes the wall goes up straight and true and sometimes it doesn't and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-brooks/writing-is-like-bricklaying-you-put-down-one-word-after-another/) [Geraldine Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-brooks/) > [Writing is like a mental masturbation to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/writing-is-like-a-mental-masturbation-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Writing is like a relationship. When it is good, it is damn good; when it is bad, you contemplate murder.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nevea-lane/writing-is-like-a-relationship-when-it-is-good-it-is-damn-good-when/) [Nevea Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nevea-lane/) > [writing, like living, is lonely work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanche-willis-howard/writing-like-living-is-lonely-work/) [Blanche Willis Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanche-willis-howard/) > [For me writing is like breathing. 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