--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started the first drafts of the book…" description: "\"“I started the first drafts of the book during my sophomore year of college. I wasn’t thinking at all about kids at the time. But I was thinking. A lot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/caleb-j-ross-111262_books_i-started-the-first-drafts-of-the-book-d_2831324.jpg" --- # I started the first drafts of the book during my sophomore… ![“I started the first drafts of the book during my sophomore year of college. I wasn’t thinking at all about kids at the time. But I was thinking. A lot. About everything. I wish I could capture that head-space again; everything meant something to me in college. Every leaf, every sound, every…” quote by Caleb J. Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/caleb-j-ross-111262_books_i-started-the-first-drafts-of-the-book-d_2831324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/caleb-j-ross-111262_books_i-started-the-first-drafts-of-the-book-d_2831324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/caleb-j-ross-111262_books_i-started-the-first-drafts-of-the-book-d_2831324.jpg) > ““I started the first drafts of the book during my sophomore year of college. I wasn’t thinking at all about kids at the time. But I was thinking. A lot. About everything. I wish I could capture that head-space again; everything meant something to me in college. Every leaf, every sound, every lecture, every textbook. It’s like I was on drugs, 24/7. I am glad I was able to pair that ceaseless pondering with plenty of time to write. What came of that time was the first draft of the novel, a lengthy, unnecessarily angst-driven pile of crap. Years later, with Zoloft, I approached the novel with a more level head, and came away with a much, much better novel. My advice to writers, I suppose, is write your novel when you feel like shit; edit when you feel great.”” Caleb J. Ross ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early intense focus produced a raw draft; later, with medication, refined it, showing that writing thrives on both passion and mental health. **In simple terms:** Passion and mental health both shape writing. Key Takeaway Balance intense focus with mental health care. Themes writing mental health creative process Mood introspective practical Type Books:1 Sophomore year:1 Time:1 Writing:1 Draft Novel:1 Zoloft:1 Later Zoloft:1 Started Drafts:1 Drafts Book:1 When to use this quote - author workshops - therapy - self‑care routines Key Concepts college life drug effects editing cycles Questions to Reflect On - When do you feel most creative? - How does mental health affect your work? A Different Perspective Medication isn’t a cure‑all; process varies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Sophomore year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophomore-year/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I am working on an epic-length book, the writing process is fairly long. 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The novel really happens in the revisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-janowitz/the-novel-is-never-really-in-the-first-draft-the-novel-really-happens/) [Tama Janowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-janowitz/) > [I wrote the first draft of my first novel at Michigan, and then I wrote the first draft of 'Salvage the Bones' at Stanford.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wrote-the-first-draft-of-my-first-novel-at-michigan-and-then-i/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Because your goal is a complete rough draft of a novel, and every rough draft, by being complete, is perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-smiley/because-your-goal-is-a-complete-rough-draft-of-a-novel-and-every/) [Jane Smiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-smiley/) > [“For every manic pixie dream girl who helps a twenty-something white guy find his way off Zoloft, I write two women who fix their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-trout/for-every-manic-pixie-dream-girl-who-helps-a-twenty-something-white/) [Jenny Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-trout/) > [I'm on the Zoloft to keep from killing y'all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-m-on-the-zoloft-to-keep-from-killing-y-all/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Yeah, I just started taking - I took my first dose of Zoloft on my 40th birthday. 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You taking it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-savage/zoloft-s-serious-stuff-you-taking-it/) Kim Savage > [“Did you know that one well known side effect of the drug Zoloft is apathy? Could Zoloft be why at least a few people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-couch/did-you-know-that-one-well-known-side-effect-of-the-drug-zoloft-is/) Joe Couch > [“So when I ran out of the final bottle of Zoloft, I didn’t take any more. I didn’t call Dr. Barney either. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/so-when-i-ran-out-of-the-final-bottle-of-zoloft-i-didn-t-take-any/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) ## More by Caleb J. Ross > [“Maybe universal nostalgia doesn't exist. Maybe each of us carries our own personal version of the better times. It's at about twnety-two years that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-j-ross/maybe-universal-nostalgia-doesn-t-exist-maybe-each-of-us-carries-our/) Caleb J. Ross Explore all 2 Caleb J. 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