--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So my first book I had no experience…" description: "\"So my first book I had no experience having written a book, but each book is a little snapshot of who you are at that moment, accrued all through time,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/chang-rae-lee-3318_accepting_so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-hav_1094711.png" --- # So my first book I had no experience having written a… ![“So my first book I had no experience having written a book, but each book is a little snapshot of who you are at that moment, accrued all through time, so I accept that.” quote by Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/chang-rae-lee-3318_accepting_so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-hav_1094711.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/chang-rae-lee-3318_accepting_so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-hav_1094711.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/chang-rae-lee-3318_accepting_so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-hav_1094711.png) > “So my first book I had no experience having written a book, but each book is a little snapshot of who you are at that moment, accrued all through time, so I accept that.” [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each book captures a temporary self‑portrait, reflecting personal growth over time. **In simple terms:** Books are snapshots of who you are. Key Takeaway Embrace each work as a record of your evolving self. Themes identity creativity growth Mood reflective introspective Type literary personal When to use this quote - writing a memoir - publishing a novel - reflecting on past projects Key Concepts self‑portrait temporal reflection personal narrative Questions to Reflect On - How does each book reveal a different you? - What does this perspective change about your writing process? A Different Perspective May overlook the collaborative influence of editors and readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-experience-571121/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Having Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-written/) [Little Snapshot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-snapshot-2848662/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Rough times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rough-times/) [Snapshots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snapshots/) [That moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/that-moment/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-you-are/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Written Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-book/) ## Related quotes > [I just think that there is something that keeps us together, to keep doing what we're doing. 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There is this moment when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-fuller/the-only-process-that-comes-close-to-the-process-of-writing-a-whole/) [Alexandra Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-fuller/) > [“Reading Proust isn't just reading a book, it's an experience and you can't reject an experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gaddis/reading-proust-isn-t-just-reading-a-book-it-s-an-experience-and-you/) [William Gaddis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gaddis/) > [No matter how much we love a book, the experience of reading it isn't complete until we can give it to someone who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/no-matter-how-much-we-love-a-book-the-experience-of-reading-it-isn-t/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [I think of reading a book as no less an experience than travelling or falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-think-of-reading-a-book-as-no-less-an-experience-than-travelling-or/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The Web or card experience is not at all going to replicate the book experience, nor is the book experience going to replicate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/the-web-or-card-experience-is-not-at-all-going-to-replicate-the-book/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [The book is an experience that allows you to witness your feelings without having to surrender to them, to succumb to them, or to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-silverblatt/the-book-is-an-experience-that-allows-you-to-witness-your-feelings/) [Michael Silverblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-silverblatt/) > [Every book is its own experience, the writing of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/every-book-is-its-own-experience-the-writing-of-it/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I think writing a book about this experience would be trying to capitalize on it in some way and that's not something I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-frey/i-think-writing-a-book-about-this-experience-would-be-trying-to/) [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) > [The whole book experience was a look into another world, the world of Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-kramer/the-whole-book-experience-was-a-look-into-another-world-the-world-of/) [Jerry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-kramer/) > [To read a paper book is another experience: you can do it on a ship, on the branch of a tree, on your bed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/to-read-a-paper-book-is-another-experience-you-can-do-it-on-a-ship-on/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [During the process of writing the book, I had this experience that was telling for me. I got it and the basic idea and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-estelle-frankel/during-the-process-of-writing-the-book-i-had-this-experience-that-was/) [Valerie Estelle Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-estelle-frankel/) ## More by Chang-Rae Lee > [The truth, finally, is who can tell it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/the-truth-finally-is-who-can-tell-it/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [I think my parents recognised that I'd always wanted to be a writer, and so they didn't think that this was some idle, faddish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-think-my-parents-recognised-that-i-d-always-wanted-to-be-a-writer/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Some writers are writing one great, big book and just taking all these different avenues towards it. They might seem on the outside to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/some-writers-are-writing-one-great-big-book-and-just-taking-all-these/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [I try to be aware of what I'm concerned about, aware of how I feel about myself in the world, aware of how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-try-to-be-aware-of-what-i-m-concerned-about-aware-of-how-i-feel/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [“Behold a fire from the opposite shore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/behold-a-fire-from-the-opposite-shore/) [Chang-rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [“I would give most anything to hear my father's talk again, the crash and bang and stop of his language, always hurtling by. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-would-give-most-anything-to-hear-my-father-s-talk-again-the-crash/) [Chang-rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [We have hopes and make plans, and if they are dashed or waylaid, we naturally rationalize and redraw the map to locate ourselves anew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/we-have-hopes-and-make-plans-and-if-they-are-dashed-or-waylaid-we/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [I remember when I was in art classes, I hated following the assignments. And I would get in trouble for doing something totally different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-remember-when-i-was-in-art-classes-i-hated-following-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [The past, as you suggest, is absolutely present at all times and the present is born from the past. I wouldn't want to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/the-past-as-you-suggest-is-absolutely-present-at-all-times-and-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Most people don't think about race as much as I do. They don't have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/most-people-don-t-think-about-race-as-much-as-i-do-they-don-t-have-to/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Not to any really influential effect, but certainly there have been comments that have surprised me. It's surprising sometimes to get particular perspectives on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/not-to-any-really-influential-effect-but-certainly-there-have-been/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [My family immigrated when I was 3, and our predecessors inhabited the Korean Peninsula for as long as can be recalled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/my-family-immigrated-when-i-was-3-and-our-predecessors-inhabited-the/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [After college, I was living in New York and wrote furiously, a huge novel that I knew was a failure. I hoped that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/after-college-i-was-living-in-new-york-and-wrote-furiously-a-huge/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [Usually, when you're talking about work with other writers it's because something seriously bad is going on with your work and you've absolutely thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/usually-when-you-re-talking-about-work-with-other-writers-it-s/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [ I had a visceral connection to the period \[of Korean War\]. By visceral I suppose I mean emotional. But every fiction requires so much… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/i-had-a-visceral-connection-to-the-period-of-korean-war-by-visceral-i/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) [Explore all 133 Chang-Rae Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So my first book I had no experience having written a book, but each book is a little snapshot of who you are at that moment, accrued all through time, so I accept that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chang-Rae Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-having-written-a-book-but-each/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-having-written-a-book-but-each/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/chang-rae-lee-3318_accepting_so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-hav_1094711.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/chang-rae-lee-3318_accepting_so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-hav_1094711.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/chang-rae-lee-3318_accepting_so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-hav_1094711.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So my first book I had no experience having written a book, but each book is a little snapshot of who you…” — Chang-Rae Lee", "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": "Chang-Rae Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "So my first book I had...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-having-written-a-book-but-each/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/so-my-first-book-i-had-no-experience-having-written-a-book-but-each/#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 } } ] } ```