--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My mother says I was writing before I was…" description: "\"My mother says I was writing before I was crawling. I wrote in the dirt with a twig.\" — Alice Walker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/alice-walker-347_before_my-mother-says-i-was-writing-before-i-wa_945410.png" --- # My mother says I was writing before I was crawling. I… ![“My mother says I was writing before I was crawling. I wrote in the dirt with a twig.” quote by Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/alice-walker-347_before_my-mother-says-i-was-writing-before-i-wa_945410.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/alice-walker-347_before_my-mother-says-i-was-writing-before-i-wa_945410.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/727/alice-walker-347_before_my-mother-says-i-was-writing-before-i-wa_945410.png) > “My mother says I was writing before I was crawling. I wrote in the dirt with a twig.” [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. The quote reflects early creative expression, showing that imagination precedes physical milestones, emphasizing innate storytelling drive **In simple terms:** Creativity starts before we can walk Key Takeaway Nurture early imagination Themes childhood creativity imagination Mood reflective inspirational Type personal observational When to use this quote - writing - art projects - education - parental encouragement Key Concepts early development play storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How can adults recognize and foster early creative signs? - What environments best nurture a child's imagination? A Different Perspective Early talent may be overlooked without support ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dirt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirt/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Twig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twig/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [My writing is very organic. It's what I am. My mother says I was writing before I was crawling. I wrote in the dirt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/my-writing-is-very-organic-it-s-what-i-am-my-mother-says-i-was/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Practicality requires that we stop somewhere in the process, but nothing actually says we can't keep on writing and revising. In fact, most writers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-l-wahlstrom/practicality-requires-that-we-stop-somewhere-in-the-process-but/) Ralph L. Wahlstrom > [For that reason you can't write with music playing, and anyone who says he can is either writing badly, or not listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/for-that-reason-you-can-t-write-with-music-playing-and-anyone-who/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [“Two people at a cocktail party. One turns to the other and says: "I'm writing a novel." The other replies, "Neither am I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/private-eye/two-people-at-a-cocktail-party-one-turns-to-the-other-and-says-i-m/) Private Eye > [“Author says writing about Jesus is difficult because it is like writing about a friend "who is still liable to surprise us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/author-says-writing-about-jesus-is-difficult-because-it-is-like/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [I'm not very happy idle. There's always this voice in my head that says, 'I should be writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-m-not-very-happy-idle-there-s-always-this-voice-in-my-head-that/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [“ My friend Isabel says, When you’re writing even a short novel, with at least a couple of subplots, and God only knows how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-manguso/my-friend-isabel-says-when-you-re-writing-even-a-short-novel-with-at/) [Sarah Manguso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-manguso/) > [As David Roderick says about writing, "It's not the tale that pleases, it's the telling," and I could not agree more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-driscoll/as-david-roderick-says-about-writing-it-s-not-the-tale-that-pleases/) [Jack Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-driscoll/) > [“Anyone who says writing is easy isn't doing it right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-joy/anyone-who-says-writing-is-easy-isn-t-doing-it-right/) [Amy Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-joy/) > [I was a twig.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-vander-esch/i-was-a-twig/) [Leighton Vander Esch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-vander-esch/) > [As in The Lime Twig dream and illusion are right at the center of Charivari.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-in-the-lime-twig-dream-and-illusion-are-right-at-the-center-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“What branch does not have its leaves and which twig will not have its flowers?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/what-branch-does-not-have-its-leaves-and-which-twig-will-not-have-its/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) > [Education forms the common mind. Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/education-forms-the-common-mind-just-as-the-twig-is-bent-the-tree-s/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [“Don't wound someone's eye trying to remove the twig from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-wound-someone-s-eye-trying-to-remove-the-twig-from-it/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“She plucked a twig and broke it, but she found no spring in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/she-plucked-a-twig-and-broke-it-but-she-found-no-spring-in-it/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## 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 Before quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/) [Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/) > [I don't like just traveling in for a short time. I've done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sacco/i-don-t-like-just-traveling-in-for-a-short-time-i-ve-done-that-before/) [Joe Sacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sacco/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [For the Russian masses, the proletarians, knew for certain, and already saw during the war, and in part before their very eyes, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-gorter/for-the-russian-masses-the-proletarians-knew-for-certain-and-already/) [Herman Gorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-gorter/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Before I got addicted to comedy, I was seriously thinking about playing tennis full time. I joined the tennis team and played with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/before-i-got-addicted-to-comedy-i-was-seriously-thinking-about/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [But even before I was in the military, I was extremely jumpy when asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/but-even-before-i-was-in-the-military-i-was-extremely-jumpy-when/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [When I'm making stuff, the thing that excites me most is not the result, but the process and trying to do something I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/when-i-m-making-stuff-the-thing-that-excites-me-most-is-not-the/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [I've pulled ticks off of me before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-ve-pulled-ticks-off-of-me-before/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) Browse all 4,123 Before quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My mother says I was writing before I was crawling. 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