--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started writing as a child. But I…" description: "\"I started writing as a child. But I didn't think of myself actually writing until I was in college. And I had gone to Africa as a sophomore or somethin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/alice-walker-347_beginning_i-started-writing-as-a-child-but-i-didn_2993644.png" --- # I started writing as a child. But I didn't think of myself… ![“I started writing as a child. But I didn't think of myself actually writing until I was in college. And I had gone to Africa as a sophomore or something - no, maybe junior - and wrote a book of poems. And that was my beginning. I published that book.” quote by Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/alice-walker-347_beginning_i-started-writing-as-a-child-but-i-didn_2993644.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/alice-walker-347_beginning_i-started-writing-as-a-child-but-i-didn_2993644.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/010/alice-walker-347_beginning_i-started-writing-as-a-child-but-i-didn_2993644.png) > “I started writing as a child. But I didn't think of myself actually writing until I was in college. And I had gone to Africa as a sophomore or something - no, maybe junior - and wrote a book of poems. And that was my beginning. I published that book.” [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early writing experiences shape identity and later creative output, showing how childhood interests can evolve into professional achievements. **In simple terms:** Childhood writing leads to later success. Key Takeaway Recognize early passions and pursue them. Themes identity creativity growth Mood reflective inspirational Type personal developmental When to use this quote - college writing - publishing a poetry book - career reflection Key Concepts self-discovery artistic development Questions to Reflect On - How did your early writing influence your later work? - What steps can you take to nurture a childhood passion? A Different Perspective Early experiences may not guarantee later success without continued effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actually Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-writing-892369/) [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Beginning Published](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning-published-4716598/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Sophomore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophomore/) [Started Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-child-1337041/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know if you actually get something out of writing poetry. I think poetry is an autonomous muse that decides to come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-don-t-know-if-you-actually-get-something-out-of-writing-poetry-i/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [First rule of writing: When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books. Spend more time doing this than anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/first-rule-of-writing-when-still-a-child-make-sure-you-read-a-lot-of/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [I was interested in writing a child's understanding of a cataclysmic event - something experienced in fragments, whispers, viewed from around corners - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-allen-howard/i-was-interested-in-writing-a-child-s-understanding-of-a-cataclysmic/) [Gregory Allen Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-allen-howard/) > [From the beginning. I was a poem-writing child. I wrote little novels in my composition book when I was eight, nine years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-larkin/from-the-beginning-i-was-a-poem-writing-child-i-wrote-little-novels/) [Joan Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-larkin/) > [The success of 'The Widow' meant there were expectations for the second book from the first word, and it has created a completely different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-barton/the-success-of-the-widow-meant-there-were-expectations-for-the-second/) [Fiona Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-barton/) > [I've been writing ever since I was a child: I used to give my English teacher extra homework and say, 'What do you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-hope-fletcher/i-ve-been-writing-ever-since-i-was-a-child-i-used-to-give-my-english/) [Carrie Hope Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-hope-fletcher/) > [I began writing after my child was seriously hurt in a day care center accident, and I wanted to come home to be with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-banks/i-began-writing-after-my-child-was-seriously-hurt-in-a-day-care/) [Leslie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-banks/) > [My family moved from California to New Jersey in the beginning of my sophomore year of high school. I will never forget the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-guaty/my-family-moved-from-california-to-new-jersey-in-the-beginning-of-my/) [Camille Guaty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-guaty/) > [As a loyal believer in the Auteur Theory I first felt editing was but the logical consequence of the way in which one shoots.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernardo-bertolucci-film-director-of-the-last-emperor-etc/as-a-loyal-believer-in-the-auteur-theory-i-first-felt-editing-was-but/) [Bernardo Bertolucci-Film Director of The Last Emperor etc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernardo-bertolucci-film-director-of-the-last-emperor-etc/) > [I cling to the fantasy that I could have done something more creative. Like actually writing a script, or writing a book. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-grant/i-cling-to-the-fantasy-that-i-could-have-done-something-more-creative/) [Hugh Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-grant/) > [“So this, it seems, is the key for authors who want to live forever: You need to write about important things without actually writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/so-this-it-seems-is-the-key-for-authors-who-want-to-live-forever-you/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [You only learn to be a better writer by actually writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/you-only-learn-to-be-a-better-writer-by-actually-writing/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Within a year after I write a play I forget the experience of having written it. And I couldn't revise or rewrite it if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-albee/within-a-year-after-i-write-a-play-i-forget-the-experience-of-having/) [Edward Albee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-albee/) > [My '60s plays were as good as most of the other plays I've written ... except I wasn't in a condition to refine them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/my-60s-plays-were-as-good-as-most-of-the-other-plays-i-ve-written/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [What gives my books authenticity is that I actually do what it is I'm writing about. I think the fact that I am in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-reichs/what-gives-my-books-authenticity-is-that-i-actually-do-what-it-is-i-m/) [Kathy Reichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-reichs/) ## More by Alice Walker > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Just be what it is that you are, and that is just fine. You don't have to be what you're not in any way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/just-be-what-it-is-that-you-are-and-that-is-just-fine-you-don-t-have/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Remember this-- say it & know it is true: Alice loves me Alice loves me and I am not blamed for this. ... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/remember-this-say-it-know-it-is-true-alice-loves-me-alice-loves-me/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Only the sky above us do we hold in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/only-the-sky-above-us-do-we-hold-in-common/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Why aren't you happy in America, if everyone there drives motorcars?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/why-aren-t-you-happy-in-america-if-everyone-there-drives-motorcars/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“She saw poetry where other writers merely saw failure to cope with English.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/she-saw-poetry-where-other-writers-merely-saw-failure-to-cope-with/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My mother had handed down respect for the possibilities...and the will to grasp them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-had-handed-down-respect-for-the-possibilities-and-the-will/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Helped are those who are content to be themselves; they will never lack mystery in their lives and the joys of self-discovery will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/helped-are-those-who-are-content-to-be-themselves-they-will-never/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“As others might prepare for an exam whose subject matter is unknown to them, so I must study, cram, for every conversation with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/as-others-might-prepare-for-an-exam-whose-subject-matter-is-unknown/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. It taught me about women defending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-mother-was-very-strong-once-she-picked-up-a-coconut-and-smashed-it/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Many readers fail to realize this, but 'The Color Purple' is a theological text. It is about the reclamation of one's original God: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/many-readers-fail-to-realize-this-but-the-color-purple-is-a/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [The good news may be that Nature is phasing out the white man, but the bad news is that's who She thinks we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-good-news-may-be-that-nature-is-phasing-out-the-white-man-but-the/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Humans - whatever billions we are - we don't have the control. We are considered expendable, basically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/humans-whatever-billions-we-are-we-don-t-have-the-control-we-are/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [All my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my uncles. I had to fight my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/all-my-life-i-had-to-fight-i-had-to-fight-my-daddy-i-had-to-fight-my/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) [Explore all 654 Alice Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) ## More Beginning quotes > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Every Finish Line is the beginning of a new race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-finish-line-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-race/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always keep the smile, because the smile is the beginning of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-imad/always-keep-the-smile-because-the-smile-is-the-beginning-of-love/) [Adam Imad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-imad/) > [We are beginning to see intimations of this in the implantation of computer devices into the human body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/we-are-beginning-to-see-intimations-of-this-in-the-implantation-of/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [The only vocal training I had was playing with a tape recorder as a kid, and you know, doing the beginning of the 'Lone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-buffer/the-only-vocal-training-i-had-was-playing-with-a-tape-recorder-as-a/) [Michael Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-buffer/) > [January is the beginning of a new year for us in the Western world. Let us give to God what belongs to him: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/january-is-the-beginning-of-a-new-year-for-us-in-the-western-world/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [In the beginning, if you look at those early label albums of the Chicks, we didn't write all that much. We had an A&R…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/in-the-beginning-if-you-look-at-those-early-label-albums-of-the/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [You need more than a beginning if you're going to start a book. If all you have is a beginning, then once you've written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/you-need-more-than-a-beginning-if-you-re-going-to-start-a-book-if-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [When there is a mission before you, you see it from its beginning to its conclusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-white/when-there-is-a-mission-before-you-you-see-it-from-its-beginning-to/) [Jesse White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-white/) > [When God made the world, all things began with him. Life, death, it all began when he said so. That includes you and me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manae-poet-of-carisis/when-god-made-the-world-all-things-began-with-him-life-death-it-all/) [Manae Poet Of Carisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manae-poet-of-carisis/) > [From the beginning at Intel, we planned on being big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-noyce/from-the-beginning-at-intel-we-planned-on-being-big/) [Robert Noyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-noyce/) > [In the very beginning, Yelp started as a service where we really didn't think people would write reviews for fun. The whole concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-stoppelman/in-the-very-beginning-yelp-started-as-a-service-where-we-really-didn/) [Jeremy Stoppelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-stoppelman/) > [Some projects feel like the stars are aligning for them from the very beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-smith/some-projects-feel-like-the-stars-are-aligning-for-them-from-the-very/) [Gregory Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-smith/) > [Do not judge me by my beginning, Only by my end, Nor by the path I took, But where it led me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacklyn-h-lucas/do-not-judge-me-by-my-beginning-only-by-my-end-nor-by-the-path-i-took/) [Jacklyn H Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacklyn-h-lucas/) [Browse all 3,566 Beginning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started writing as a child. 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