--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way to do it is to do it: by…" description: "\"The only way to do it is to do it: by writing, writing, writing.\" — Barbara Mertz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/barbara-mertz-15249_inspirational_the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-wri_3187987.jpg" --- # The only way to do it is to do it: by writing, writing… ![“The only way to do it is to do it: by writing, writing, writing.” quote by Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/barbara-mertz-15249_inspirational_the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-wri_3187987.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/barbara-mertz-15249_inspirational_the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-wri_3187987.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/barbara-mertz-15249_inspirational_the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-wri_3187987.jpg) > “The only way to do it is to do it: by writing, writing, writing.” [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consistent, repetitive writing is the most effective way to improve skill and overcome creative blocks. **In simple terms:** Write a lot to get better. Key Takeaway Write daily, no excuses. Themes creativity discipline skill development productivity learning Mood motivational practical encouraging Type advice inspirational practical When to use this quote - Morning writing sessions - workshop assignments - self‑imposed deadlines Key Concepts Deliberate practice writing habits creative flow Questions to Reflect On - What daily writing routine works best for you? - How do you balance quantity with quality? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on quantity can reduce quality if not paired with reflection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [There is no way of writing well and also of writing easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/there-is-no-way-of-writing-well-and-also-of-writing-easily/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [“Advice? I don’t have advice. Stop aspiring and start writing. If you’re writing, you’re a writer. Write like you’re a goddamn death row inmate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/advice-i-don-t-have-advice-stop-aspiring-and-start-writing-if-you-re/) [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/) > [If you've got craft, you got game. If you got game, you can write your way in and out of anything. Writing is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mark-kamen/if-you-ve-got-craft-you-got-game-if-you-got-game-you-can-write-your/) Robert Mark Kamen > [I'm not superstitious in my normal daily life but I get that way about writing, even though I know it's all bullshit. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-m-not-superstitious-in-my-normal-daily-life-but-i-get-that-way/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [In my mind, there's not a great difference between what people call fiction and non-fiction. So in that sense, I'm like an early-18th-century person.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/in-my-mind-there-s-not-a-great-difference-between-what-people-call/) [John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/) > [“There's no right way of writing. There's only your way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-lomask/there-s-no-right-way-of-writing-there-s-only-your-way/) Milton Lomask > [In my experience, when you're writing, you want the truth, and you don't want to be apologetic in any way. But there is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-ove-knausgard/in-my-experience-when-you-re-writing-you-want-the-truth-and-you-don-t/) [Karl Ove Knausgard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-ove-knausgard/) > [That's another way of writing a song, of course. Just talking to somebody that ain't there. That's the best way. That's the truest way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/that-s-another-way-of-writing-a-song-of-course-just-talking-to/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [When I wrote and got out of the way, writing did writing.” (p.90)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/when-i-wrote-and-got-out-of-the-way-writing-did-writing-p-90/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“Modern writing at its worst does not consist in picking out words for the sake of their meaning and inventing images in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/modern-writing-at-its-worst-does-not-consist-in-picking-out-words-for/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [In a crazy way, writing is a lot like any kind of very complex game - like chess, where you have the knowledge as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ross/in-a-crazy-way-writing-is-a-lot-like-any-kind-of-very-complex-game/) [Adam Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ross/) > [Longhand isn't well suited to my way of writing. I tend to end up with dozens of pages of crossings-out and margin scribbles just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-hall/longhand-isn-t-well-suited-to-my-way-of-writing-i-tend-to-end-up-with/) [Steven Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-hall/) > [Once I get my writing done, then I can turn my attention elsewhere - and not the other way around. The writing has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-listi/once-i-get-my-writing-done-then-i-can-turn-my-attention-elsewhere-and/) [Brad Listi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-listi/) > [Let the writer take up surgery or bricklaying if he is interested in technique. There is no mechanical way to get the writing done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/let-the-writer-take-up-surgery-or-bricklaying-if-he-is-interested-in/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“Sleep just gets in the way of the writing I want to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celine-garcia/sleep-just-gets-in-the-way-of-the-writing-i-want-to-do/) Celine Garcia ## More by Barbara Mertz > [It is easier to counterfeit old age than youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/it-is-easier-to-counterfeit-old-age-than-youth/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [I never meant to marry. In my opinion, a woman born in the last half of the nineteenth century of the Christian era suffered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/i-never-meant-to-marry-in-my-opinion-a-woman-born-in-the-last-half-of/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [kissing someone out of pity is always a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/kissing-someone-out-of-pity-is-always-a-mistake/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [Dogs can be made to feel guilty about anything, including the sins of their owners. Cats refuse to take the blame for anything -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/dogs-can-be-made-to-feel-guilty-about-anything-including-the-sins-of/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [Reputations are shaped not by facts but by prejudices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/reputations-are-shaped-not-by-facts-but-by-prejudices/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [Conventional history completely ignores half the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/conventional-history-completely-ignores-half-the-human-race/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [there is nothing like a garden to rest the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/there-is-nothing-like-a-garden-to-rest-the-soul/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [a church ought to express the joy of religion as well as its majesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/a-church-ought-to-express-the-joy-of-religion-as-well-as-its-majesty/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [Husbands do not care to be contradicted. Indeed, I do not know anyone who does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/husbands-do-not-care-to-be-contradicted-indeed-i-do-not-know-anyone/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [People who relate what they believe to be new and startling information like to have such information received with exclamations of astonishment and admiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/people-who-relate-what-they-believe-to-be-new-and-startling/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [When men start talking about 'honor', there is sure to be trouble ahead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/when-men-start-talking-about-honor-there-is-sure-to-be-trouble-ahead/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [Children, I feel, are as much entitled to privacy as human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/children-i-feel-are-as-much-entitled-to-privacy-as-human-beings/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [Money was the manure of politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/money-was-the-manure-of-politics/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [Noble causes have a deplorable effect on the morals of the persons who espouse them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/noble-causes-have-a-deplorable-effect-on-the-morals-of-the-persons/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) > [I have no writing habit. I work when I feel like it, and I work when I have to - mostly the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/i-have-no-writing-habit-i-work-when-i-feel-like-it-and-i-work-when-i/) [Barbara Mertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) [Explore all 43 Barbara Mertz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/) ## More Inspirational quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [The man who can master his time can master nearly anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/the-man-who-can-master-his-time-can-master-nearly-anything/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [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/) > [Just understand that the good that you want is already here. All you have to do is get in harmony with it. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/just-understand-that-the-good-that-you-want-is-already-here-all-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/if-you-want-to-build-a-ship-don-t-drum-up-the-men-to-gather-wood/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [Obviously, if you don't love life, you can't enjoy an oyster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-clark/obviously-if-you-don-t-love-life-you-can-t-enjoy-an-oyster/) [Eleanor Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-clark/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) [Browse all 114,561 Inspirational quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only way to do it is to do it: by writing, writing, writing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barbara Mertz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-writing-writing-writing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspirational" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-writing-writing-writing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/barbara-mertz-15249_inspirational_the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-wri_3187987.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/barbara-mertz-15249_inspirational_the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-wri_3187987.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c39/barbara-mertz-15249_inspirational_the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-wri_3187987.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only way to do it is to do it: by writing, writing, writing.” — Barbara Mertz", "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": "Barbara Mertz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mertz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only way to do it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-writing-writing-writing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mertz/the-only-way-to-do-it-is-to-do-it-by-writing-writing-writing/#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 } } ] } ```