---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm gradually working through my…"
description: "\"I'm gradually working through my obsessions, and maybe, when they're all free and clear, I'll write a comedy. But I'm not there yet.\" — Alice Sebold"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/alice-sebold-999_clear_i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessi_1836532.jpg"
---

#  I'm gradually working through my obsessions, and maybe…

![“I'm gradually working through my obsessions, and maybe, when they're all free and clear, I'll write a comedy. But I'm not there yet.” quote by Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/alice-sebold-999_clear_i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessi_1836532.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/alice-sebold-999_clear_i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessi_1836532.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/alice-sebold-999_clear_i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessi_1836532.jpg)

> “I'm gradually working through my obsessions, and maybe, when they're all free and clear, I'll write a comedy. But I'm not there yet.”

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The author acknowledges ongoing personal struggles that hinder creative output, hoping future clarity will enable humor writing.

**In simple terms:** Personal issues block creative work until resolved.

Key Takeaway

Address underlying obsessions before creating comedy.

Themes

creativity mental health humor self‑reflection

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

personal creative inspirational

When to use this quote

- therapy sessions
- journaling
- drafting jokes
- mental health days

Key Concepts

psychology creative process writing

Questions to Reflect On

- What obsessions limit your creativity?
- How can you transform personal pain into comedy?

A Different Perspective

Even after clarity, humor may still be elusive without practice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Obsessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obsessions/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/)

## Related quotes

> [And this whole period of time of gradually working at being a better guitar player and songwriter have gradually led me to the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/and-this-whole-period-of-time-of-gradually-working-at-being-a-better/)

[John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/)

> [I think it would be harder for me not to write comedy because the comic view of things is the one that comes most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-russo/i-think-it-would-be-harder-for-me-not-to-write-comedy-because-the/)

[Richard Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-russo/)

> [I think I always wanna write comedy because that's what feels truest to me; it feels closest to life as I know it, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-king/i-think-i-always-wanna-write-comedy-because-that-s-what-feels-truest/)

[Owen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-king/)

> [People, when they talk or write about comedy, they don't really get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-keaton/people-when-they-talk-or-write-about-comedy-they-don-t-really-get-it/)

[Michael Keaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-keaton/)

> [That's the best advice I can give - when you're trying to write a comedy, first write a drama, and then make it funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-segel/that-s-the-best-advice-i-can-give-when-you-re-trying-to-write-a/)

[Jason Segel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-segel/)

> [I wanted to write something that would be a comedy in the sense of making people feel happier when they finish it than they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-wanted-to-write-something-that-would-be-a-comedy-in-the-sense-of/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [First and foremost, I just want to write comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baynham/first-and-foremost-i-just-want-to-write-comedy/)

[Peter Baynham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baynham/)

> [I know this is going to sound very self-serving, and I apologize for it, but if you can write comedy, you can pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-moffat/i-know-this-is-going-to-sound-very-self-serving-and-i-apologize-for/)

[Steven Moffat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-moffat/)

> [I've always tended to write comedy, but I'd hate to just write some kind of sitcom or a lighthearted series of jokes and slapstick.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thewlis/i-ve-always-tended-to-write-comedy-but-i-d-hate-to-just-write-some/)

[David Thewlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thewlis/)

> [Anyone can write. But comedy, you've got to do some writing. You get one comedy script to every 20 dramas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-caine/anyone-can-write-but-comedy-you-ve-got-to-do-some-writing-you-get-one/)

[Michael Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-caine/)

> [It always seems to someone outside the business that it is very difficult to write for a comedy show because it must be done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/it-always-seems-to-someone-outside-the-business-that-it-is-very/)

[Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/)

> [I can only develop a stand-up show by being on stage. I can't write it. Whenever I see comedy written down, it very rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bishop/i-can-only-develop-a-stand-up-show-by-being-on-stage-i-can-t-write-it/)

[John Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bishop/)

> [I think I write my comedy to - a lot of it is to make my parents laugh. I want them to be proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-bargatze/i-think-i-write-my-comedy-to-a-lot-of-it-is-to-make-my-parents-laugh/)

[Nate Bargatze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-bargatze/)

> [It's hard to write a comedy sketch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mckinnon/it-s-hard-to-write-a-comedy-sketch/)

[Kate McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mckinnon/)

> [When I had the idea for 'Shopaholic', it was as though a light switched on. I realised I actually wanted to write comedy. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/when-i-had-the-idea-for-shopaholic-it-was-as-though-a-light-switched/)

[Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/)

## More by Alice Sebold

> [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [I left my mark on that man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-left-my-mark-on-that-man/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [These things, she felt, were not to be passed around like disingenuous party favors. She kept an honor code with her journals and her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/these-things-she-felt-were-not-to-be-passed-around-like-disingenuous/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [I don't think ignorance is a way that you gain distance on something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-don-t-think-ignorance-is-a-way-that-you-gain-distance-on-something/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [I was like I was in science class: I was curious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-was-like-i-was-in-science-class-i-was-curious/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [“There are secret rooms inside us,” I had said to my therapist. “A relatively benign construct,” he said, and so I did not bother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/there-are-secret-rooms-inside-us-i-had-said-to-my-therapist-a/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [“This is just a temporary hell, not a permanent one”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/this-is-just-a-temporary-hell-not-a-permanent-one/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [“And a soul would run by a living being, touch them softly on the shoulder or cheek, and continue on its way to heaven.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/and-a-soul-would-run-by-a-living-being-touch-them-softly-on-the/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [As if in the other side of his kiss there could ve a new life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/as-if-in-the-other-side-of-his-kiss-there-could-ve-a-new-life/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [“My little brother's greatest fear was that the one person who meant so much to him would go away. He loved Lindsey and Grandma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/my-little-brother-s-greatest-fear-was-that-the-one-person-who-meant/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [“She listened for the pain in my words, not to the narrative itself. She was intuiting what it meant to me, what was most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/she-listened-for-the-pain-in-my-words-not-to-the-narrative-itself-she/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [The relationship with the words someone uses is more intimate and integrated than just a quick read and a blurb can ever be. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/the-relationship-with-the-words-someone-uses-is-more-intimate-and/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [Ruth hadn't talked to my sister since before my death, and then it was only to excuse herself in the hallway at school. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/ruth-hadn-t-talked-to-my-sister-since-before-my-death-and-then-it-was/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [Since then I've always thought that under rape in the dictionary it should tell the truth. It is not just forcible intercourse; rape means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/since-then-i-ve-always-thought-that-under-rape-in-the-dictionary-it/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

> [I live in a world where two truths coexist: where both hell and hope lie in the palm of my hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-live-in-a-world-where-two-truths-coexist-where-both-hell-and-hope/)

[Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

[Explore all 302 Alice Sebold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/)

## More Clear quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/)

[Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/)

> [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/)

[Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/)

> [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

> [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/)

[Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm gradually working through my obsessions, and maybe, when they're all free and clear, I'll write a comedy. But I'm not there yet.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alice Sebold"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessions-and-maybe-when-they-re/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessions-and-maybe-when-they-re/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/alice-sebold-999_clear_i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessi_1836532.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/alice-sebold-999_clear_i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessi_1836532.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/alice-sebold-999_clear_i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessi_1836532.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm gradually working through my obsessions, and maybe, when they're all free and clear, I'll write a…” — Alice Sebold",
                "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 Sebold",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm gradually working through my obsessions,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessions-and-maybe-when-they-re/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/i-m-gradually-working-through-my-obsessions-and-maybe-when-they-re/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
