--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For years and years I thought that…" description: "\"For years and years I thought that stories were just practice, till I got time to write a novel,\" — Alice Munro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/alice-munro-1231_books_for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stori_2665732.png" --- # For years and years I thought that stories were just… ![“For years and years I thought that stories were just practice, till I got time to write a novel,” quote by Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/alice-munro-1231_books_for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stori_2665732.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/alice-munro-1231_books_for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stori_2665732.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/alice-munro-1231_books_for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stori_2665732.png) > “For years and years I thought that stories were just practice, till I got time to write a novel,” [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Realizing that storytelling is more than rehearsal; it becomes a craft when applied to larger works. **In simple terms:** Storytelling is practice that grows into art. Key Takeaway Treat stories as practice for bigger projects. Themes creativity writing growth Mood reflective inspired Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - short story workshops - creative retreats Key Concepts Narrative skill craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - How can practice be turned into mastery? - What larger project can benefit from your storytelling? A Different Perspective Writing alone may not guarantee success without discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I thought some of the stories were neat; I liked some of the liturgy and some of the songs. If you're a writer you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-thought-some-of-the-stories-were-neat-i-liked-some-of-the-liturgy/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“Lists, she thought, are the stories of our lives; they give a picture of who we are and what we do every day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/lists-she-thought-are-the-stories-of-our-lives-they-give-a-picture-of/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [When Fox asked me if I'd consider taking on The X-Men universe for television, my first thought was, 'What would you do with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-hawley/when-fox-asked-me-if-i-d-consider-taking-on-the-x-men-universe-for/) [Noah Hawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-hawley/) > [I know people who have suffered writer's block, and I don't think I've ever had it. A friend of mine, for three years he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/i-know-people-who-have-suffered-writer-s-block-and-i-don-t-think-i-ve/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [I just thought, there are very few stories involving me, Anna Nicole Smith, and Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/i-just-thought-there-are-very-few-stories-involving-me-anna-nicole/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Why do I like to write short stories? Well, I certainly didn't intend to. I was going to write a novel. And still! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/why-do-i-like-to-write-short-stories-well-i-certainly-didn-t-intend/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I used to feel for years and years and years that I was very remiss not to have written a novel and I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/i-used-to-feel-for-years-and-years-and-years-that-i-was-very-remiss/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [For an actor, if you're not doing a job, you can't just practice acting. Your instrument is your whole person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rampling/for-an-actor-if-you-re-not-doing-a-job-you-can-t-just-practice-acting/) [Charlotte Rampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rampling/) > [I get beat up a lot. Pretty badly, too. I'm just not much of a practice wrestler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cael-sanderson/i-get-beat-up-a-lot-pretty-badly-too-i-m-just-not-much-of-a-practice/) [Cael Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cael-sanderson/) > [While you are continuing this practice, week after week, year after year, your experience will become deeper and deeper, and your experience will cover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/while-you-are-continuing-this-practice-week-after-week-year-after/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Every time I get the chance, I just talk to myself basically in English just to practice my pronunciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-brian/every-time-i-get-the-chance-i-just-talk-to-myself-basically-in/) [Rich Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-brian/) > [I am playing the violin, that's all I know, nothing else, no education, no nothing. You just practice every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/itzhak-perlman/i-am-playing-the-violin-that-s-all-i-know-nothing-else-no-education/) [Itzhak Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/itzhak-perlman/) > [Not all relationships are meant to last, they're just practice for the one that does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-poindexter/not-all-relationships-are-meant-to-last-they-re-just-practice-for-the/) [Linda Poindexter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-poindexter/) > [I released that I could crank out a song if I practiced it a lot. If I am in the practice of writing songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-hest/i-released-that-i-could-crank-out-a-song-if-i-practiced-it-a-lot-if-i/) Ari Hest > [It's hard for me to just practice without writing something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geddy-lee/it-s-hard-for-me-to-just-practice-without-writing-something/) [Geddy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geddy-lee/) ## More by Alice Munro > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“Not very long ago I was driving with my husband on the back roads of Grey County, which is to the north and east…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/not-very-long-ago-i-was-driving-with-my-husband-on-the-back-roads-of/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“Her silent singing wrapped around the story she was telling herself, which she extended further every night on the deck. (Averill often told herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/her-silent-singing-wrapped-around-the-story-she-was-telling-herself/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“Something happened here. In your life there are a few places, or maybe only the one place, were something happened, and then there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/something-happened-here-in-your-life-there-are-a-few-places-or-maybe/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [My head was a magpie's nest lined with such bright scraps of information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/my-head-was-a-magpie-s-nest-lined-with-such-bright-scraps-of/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [The thing is to be happy, no matter what. Just try that. You can. It gets to be easier and easier. It's nothing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/the-thing-is-to-be-happy-no-matter-what-just-try-that-you-can-it-gets/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [What she wants to do if she can get the time to do it, is not so much to live in the past as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/what-she-wants-to-do-if-she-can-get-the-time-to-do-it-is-not-so-much/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“Children Katy's age had no problem with monotony. In fact they embraced it, diving into it and wrapping the familiar words round their tongues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/children-katy-s-age-had-no-problem-with-monotony-in-fact-they/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“This is what happens. You put it away for a little while, and now and again you look in the closet for something else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/this-is-what-happens-you-put-it-away-for-a-little-while-and-now-and/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [She sits in her usual ample armchair, with piles of books and unopened magazines around her. She sips cautiously from the mug of weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/she-sits-in-her-usual-ample-armchair-with-piles-of-books-and-unopened/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [The images, the language, of pornography, and romance are alike; monotonous and mechanically seductive, quickly leading to despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/the-images-the-language-of-pornography-and-romance-are-alike/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I was a grade B housewife, maybe a B minus. But when I got time to write, I would be unable to finish a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/i-was-a-grade-b-housewife-maybe-a-b-minus-but-when-i-got-time-to/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [She would live now, not read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/she-would-live-now-not-read/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [“You would think as you get older your mind would fill up with what they call the spiritual side of things, but mine just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/you-would-think-as-you-get-older-your-mind-would-fill-up-with-what/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [Peoples lives, in Jubilee as elsewhere, were dull, simple, amazing, unfathomable-deep caves paved with kitchen linoleum. . . . What I wanted \[to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/peoples-lives-in-jubilee-as-elsewhere-were-dull-simple-amazing/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) [Explore all 261 Alice Munro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For years and years I thought that stories were just practice, till I got time to write a novel,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alice Munro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stories-were-just-practice-till-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stories-were-just-practice-till-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/alice-munro-1231_books_for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stori_2665732.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/alice-munro-1231_books_for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stori_2665732.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c47/alice-munro-1231_books_for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stori_2665732.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For years and years I thought that stories were just practice, till I got time to write a novel,” — Alice Munro", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alice Munro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For years and years I thought...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stories-were-just-practice-till-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/for-years-and-years-i-thought-that-stories-were-just-practice-till-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```