---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's true that writing is a solitary…"
description: "\"It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once yo..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/anne-tyler-1837_character_it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occ_1586167.png"
---

#  It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you…

![“It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them.” quote by Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/anne-tyler-1837_character_it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occ_1586167.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/anne-tyler-1837_character_it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occ_1586167.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/anne-tyler-1837_character_it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occ_1586167.png)

> “It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them.”

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

## About This Quote

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

Writing may seem solitary, yet imagined characters provide companionship and emotional support to the author.

**In simple terms:** Imaginary characters can be comforting companions.

Key Takeaway

Engage deeply with your characters for creative support.

Themes

creativity solitude imagination companionship

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

literary psychological

When to use this quote

- novel writing
- screenwriting
- personal journaling

Key Concepts

character development psychology of writing creative solitude

Questions to Reflect On

- What does your favorite character teach you about yourself?
- How can this companionship influence your real relationships?

A Different Perspective

Relying on fictional companions may limit real social interaction.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Companionship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/companionship/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [It's true that it's a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-s-true-that-it-s-a-solitary-occupation-but-you-would-be-surprised/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [“The writers we love often serve us through their comfort and example without their ever knowing it, and in this sense, they're as imaginary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricio-pron/the-writers-we-love-often-serve-us-through-their-comfort-and-example/)

Patricio Pron

> [I like to mix the real and the imaginary. Sometimes it is characters inspired by real people I know or know of. Sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/i-like-to-mix-the-real-and-the-imaginary-sometimes-it-is-characters/)

[Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/)

> [Fiction has consisted either of placing imaginary characters in a true story, which is the Iliad, or of presenting the story of an individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-queneau/fiction-has-consisted-either-of-placing-imaginary-characters-in-a/)

[Raymond Queneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-queneau/)

> [I like to create imaginary characters and events around a real historical situation. I want readers to feel: OK, this probably didn't happen, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/i-like-to-create-imaginary-characters-and-events-around-a-real/)

[Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/)

> [They are imaginary characters. But perhaps not solely the products of my imagination, since there are some aspects of the characters that relate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mahy/they-are-imaginary-characters-but-perhaps-not-solely-the-products-of/)

[Margaret Mahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mahy/)

> [The novel is a meditation on existence as seen through the medium of imaginary characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-novel-is-a-meditation-on-existence-as-seen-through-the-medium-of/)

[Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/)

> [Writing is one of the most solitary activities in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/writing-is-one-of-the-most-solitary-activities-in-the-world/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [Medicine has an immediate impact, the ability to do good. Writing is such a solitary activity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzodinma-iweala/medicine-has-an-immediate-impact-the-ability-to-do-good-writing-is/)

[Uzodinma Iweala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzodinma-iweala/)

> [Writing is a solitary existence. Making a movie is controlled chaos - thousands of moving parts and people. Every decision is a compromise. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/writing-is-a-solitary-existence-making-a-movie-is-controlled-chaos/)

[Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/)

> [When you're writing it's a very solitary job. It's you and your word processor and a cup of tea. It's nice- that again, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/when-you-re-writing-it-s-a-very-solitary-job-it-s-you-and-your-word/)

[Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/)

> [I love getting out the house because writing is such a solitary business that even being at the library makes me feel part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-green/i-love-getting-out-the-house-because-writing-is-such-a-solitary/)

[Jane Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-green/)

> [“Writing may be a solitary endeavor, but publishing is not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-yim/writing-may-be-a-solitary-endeavor-but-publishing-is-not/)

Natasha Yim

> [Writing is solitary. You spend so much time alone and in your own mind, telling stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-ozeki/writing-is-solitary-you-spend-so-much-time-alone-and-in-your-own-mind/)

[Ruth Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ozeki/)

> [“The irony of writing is that it's a solitary profession in which the lone writer tries to address universal human concerns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rubinstein/the-irony-of-writing-is-that-it-s-a-solitary-profession-in-which-the/)

[Mark Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rubinstein/)

## More by Anne Tyler

> [Try Jesus, you won't regret it, a billboard read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/try-jesus-you-won-t-regret-it-a-billboard-read/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [“Every place I go I miss another place.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/every-place-i-go-i-miss-another-place/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [I'm falling into disrepair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/i-m-falling-into-disrepair/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [None of my own experiences ever finds its way into my work. However, the stages of my life - motherhood, middle age, etc. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/none-of-my-own-experiences-ever-finds-its-way-into-my-work-however/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [For my own family, I would always choose the makeshift, surrogate family formed by various characters unrelated by blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/for-my-own-family-i-would-always-choose-the-makeshift-surrogate/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [Mostly it's lies, writing novels. You set out to tell an untrue story and you try to make it believable, even to yourself. Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/mostly-it-s-lies-writing-novels-you-set-out-to-tell-an-untrue-story/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [When I read, I'm purely a reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/when-i-read-i-m-purely-a-reader/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [“You wake in the morning, you’re feeling fine, but all at once you think, “Something’s not right. Something’s off somewhere; what is it?” And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/you-wake-in-the-morning-you-re-feeling-fine-but-all-at-once-you-think/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [“...that was Julian for you: reckless. A dashing sailor, a speedy driver, a frequenter of single bars, he was the kind of man who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/that-was-julian-for-you-reckless-a-dashing-sailor-a-speedy-driver-a/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [“Disaster followed disaster... the hero stuck in there, though. Macon had long ago noticed that all adventure movies had the same moral: Perseverance pays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/disaster-followed-disaster-the-hero-stuck-in-there-though-macon-had/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [It struck her all at once that dealing with other human beings was an awful lot of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-struck-her-all-at-once-that-dealing-with-other-human-beings-was-an/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [“Justine hated pantsuits. Whenever she saw one, she had an urge to tell the owner some scandalous fortune, loudly enough to be heard everywhere:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/justine-hated-pantsuits-whenever-she-saw-one-she-had-an-urge-to-tell/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [My family can always tell when I'm well into a novel because the meals get very crummy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/my-family-can-always-tell-when-i-m-well-into-a-novel-because-the/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [“She liked to think that she was wearing her beauty out—using it up, she liked to think. She took some satisfaction in it, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/she-liked-to-think-that-she-was-wearing-her-beauty-out-using-it-up/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [It is not how much you love someone, but who you are when you are with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-is-not-how-much-you-love-someone-but-who-you-are-when-you-are-with/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

[Explore all 202 Anne Tyler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

## More Character quotes

> [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/)

[Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [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'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/)

[Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/)

> [When you're on a daytime drama you get one page, you better damn well know your character. You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/)

David Hudgins

> [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/)

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

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/)

[Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/)

> [I'm not a huge social media kind of guy, so I don't really know, I don't really ever get... at least in real life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-stroma/i-m-not-a-huge-social-media-kind-of-guy-so-i-don-t-really-know-i-don/)

[Freddie Stroma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-stroma/)

> [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/)

[Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/)

[Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/)

[Browse all 32,707 Character quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a group of imaginary characters can offer once you get to know them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Anne Tyler"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occupation-but-you-would-be/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Character"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occupation-but-you-would-be/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/anne-tyler-1837_character_it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occ_1586167.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/anne-tyler-1837_character_it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occ_1586167.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9a/anne-tyler-1837_character_it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occ_1586167.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's true that writing is a solitary occupation, but you would be surprised at how much companionship a…” — Anne Tyler",
                "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": "Anne Tyler",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's true that writing is a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occupation-but-you-would-be/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-s-true-that-writing-is-a-solitary-occupation-but-you-would-be/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
