--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a practised writer now. But when I…" description: "\"I'm a practised writer now. But when I began, I had no idea what this was going to be. I just knew that there was something inside me that wanted me to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/chinua-achebe-781_come_i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-be_750633.jpg" --- # I'm a practised writer now. But when I began, I had no… ![“I'm a practised writer now. But when I began, I had no idea what this was going to be. I just knew that there was something inside me that wanted me to tell who I was, and that would have come out even if I didn't want it.” quote by Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/chinua-achebe-781_come_i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-be_750633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/chinua-achebe-781_come_i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-be_750633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/chinua-achebe-781_come_i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-be_750633.jpg) > “I'm a practised writer now. But when I began, I had no idea what this was going to be. I just knew that there was something inside me that wanted me to tell who I was, and that would have come out even if I didn't want it.” [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer describes an innate compulsion to express identity through writing, suggesting creativity is an unavoidable force. **In simple terms:** Writing is a compelled self‑expression. Key Takeaway Trust your inner drive to create. Themes creativity identity compulsion Mood reflective inspirational Type personal creative When to use this quote - journaling - novel writing - creative block - personal storytelling Key Concepts self‑discovery artistic impulse Questions to Reflect On - What inner voice pushes you to write? - How can you nurture that impulse? A Different Perspective May feel overwhelming without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Is it rash to assume that when a practised writer says a thing, he is more likely to mean what he says than what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/is-it-rash-to-assume-that-when-a-practised-writer-says-a-thing-he-is/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I stopped looking under my bed for the monsters, because I knew they were inside of me.~](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/i-stopped-looking-under-my-bed-for-the-monsters-because-i-knew-they/) Patience > [“Until I knew that it was you inside me, who has so much to say, I hesitated writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishikant/until-i-knew-that-it-was-you-inside-me-who-has-so-much-to-say-i/) [Nishikant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishikant/) > [The first time I saw you I already knew, there was something inside of you. Something I thought that I would never find... Angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-first-time-i-saw-you-i-already-knew-there-was-something-inside-of/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [It's amazing to think that every item of clothing we wear began as an idea in somebodies head. Whether it's a designer dress or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-o-porter/it-s-amazing-to-think-that-every-item-of-clothing-we-wear-began-as-an/) [Dawn O'Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-o-porter/) > ['The Polar Express' began with the idea of a train standing alone in the woods. I asked myself, 'What if a boy gets on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-van-allsburg/the-polar-express-began-with-the-idea-of-a-train-standing-alone-in/) [Chris Van Allsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-van-allsburg/) > [“I began to have an idea of my life, not as the slow shaping of achievement to fit my preconceived purposes, but as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-began-to-have-an-idea-of-my-life-not-as-the-slow-shaping-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Ghost City' began as a idea. I felt that I hadn't read or heard a great deal about the sort of life that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/ghost-city-began-as-a-idea-i-felt-that-i-hadn-t-read-or-heard-a-great/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [Before I sat down and became a writer, before I began to do it habitually and for my living, there was a decades-long stretch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/before-i-sat-down-and-became-a-writer-before-i-began-to-do-it/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [I think once I began to trust myself as a writer, I began to be seen as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-rothwell/i-think-once-i-began-to-trust-myself-as-a-writer-i-began-to-be-seen/) [Natasha Rothwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-rothwell/) > [“Where is the writer,” he began, “who is unstained by any habits of the human, who is the ideal of everything alien to living,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/where-is-the-writer-he-began-who-is-unstained-by-any-habits-of-the/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [My experience is, the writer I was when I began was only a fraction of what I feel capable of doing now. Don't stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mccarten/my-experience-is-the-writer-i-was-when-i-began-was-only-a-fraction-of/) [Anthony McCarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-mccarten/) > [My very identities as a reader and a writer began at the Walt Whitman branch library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-spencer/my-very-identities-as-a-reader-and-a-writer-began-at-the-walt-whitman/) Paula Spencer > [“I have so little control over the act of writing that it's all I can do to remain conscious. Actual formal considerations are almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/i-have-so-little-control-over-the-act-of-writing-that-it-s-all-i-can/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [Unlike President Obama, Mitt Romney has been inside the bubble all his life. He has no idea what's going on here. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/unlike-president-obama-mitt-romney-has-been-inside-the-bubble-all-his/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) ## More by Chinua Achebe > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Do not despair. I know you will not despair. You have a manly and a proud heart. A proud heart can survive a general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/do-not-despair-i-know-you-will-not-despair-you-have-a-manly-and-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [My son even if you want to fall, at least fall where your bones can be gathered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/my-son-even-if-you-want-to-fall-at-least-fall-where-your-bones-can-be/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“And so Mr. Brown came to be respected even by the clan, because he trod softly on its faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/and-so-mr-brown-came-to-be-respected-even-by-the-clan-because-he-trod/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-have-learned-that-a-man-who-makes-trouble-for-others-is-also-making/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [In fact, I thought that Christianity was very a good and a very valuable thing for us. But after a while, I began to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-fact-i-thought-that-christianity-was-very-a-good-and-a-very/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I find Nigeria very frustrating. I am not alone in this. There are many Nigerians abroad. As you know, the brain drain is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-find-nigeria-very-frustrating-i-am-not-alone-in-this-there-are-many/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [I do not actually see how art, literature can be anything other that being in that domain of trying to tell us, trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-do-not-actually-see-how-art-literature-can-be-anything-other-that/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Democracy is not something you put away for ten years, and then in the 11th year you wake up and start practicing again. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/democracy-is-not-something-you-put-away-for-ten-years-and-then-in-the/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When there is a big tree small ones climb on its back to reach the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-there-is-a-big-tree-small-ones-climb-on-its-back-to-reach-the-sun/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [When I began going to school and learned to read, I encountered stories of other people and other lands. In one of my essays,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/when-i-began-going-to-school-and-learned-to-read-i-encountered/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [Almost nobody dances sober, unless they happen to be insane. H. P. LOVECRAFT, attributed, Telling It Like It Is Dancing is very important nowadays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/almost-nobody-dances-sober-unless-they-happen-to-be-insane-h-p/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [This is why I find racism impossible, because this is against humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/this-is-why-i-find-racism-impossible-because-this-is-against-humanity/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [“Then listen to me,' he said and cleared his throat. 'It's true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/then-listen-to-me-he-said-and-cleared-his-throat-it-s-true-that-a/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [What you must accept is that your life is not going to be the same while you are writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/what-you-must-accept-is-that-your-life-is-not-going-to-be-the-same/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Explore all 368 Chinua Achebe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) ## More Come quotes > [I value the experiences that come with life too much to sit by and not put my full effort into them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-value-the-experiences-that-come-with-life-too-much-to-sit-by-and/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [If you've got some to say to Ric Flair, you come say it to me, and I'll make the translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-piper/if-you-ve-got-some-to-say-to-ric-flair-you-come-say-it-to-me-and-i-ll/) [Roddy Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-piper/) > [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/) > [Mihir is one of the most secure men that I have ever come across in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manini-mishra/mihir-is-one-of-the-most-secure-men-that-i-have-ever-come-across-in/) [Manini Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manini-mishra/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [We'd always come into Syracuse for the Empire State Games and the stair fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-biden/we-d-always-come-into-syracuse-for-the-empire-state-games-and-the/) [Beau Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-biden/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“More we know, more we come know that how less we know”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/souvik-khamrui/more-we-know-more-we-come-know-that-how-less-we-know/) Souvik Khamrui > [I mean, you've kind of got the track down, especially with ovals. The only thing that improves is that when race conditions come, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/i-mean-you-ve-kind-of-got-the-track-down-especially-with-ovals-the/) [Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My preference is for people who come to rehearsal and get into the ring. I like a muscular actor who's playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mantello/my-preference-is-for-people-who-come-to-rehearsal-and-get-into-the/) [Joe Mantello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mantello/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) Browse all 13,032 Come quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a practised writer now. But when I began, I had no idea what this was going to be. I just knew that there was something inside me that wanted me to tell who I was, and that would have come out even if I didn't want it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chinua Achebe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-began-i-had-no-idea-what-this/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Come" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-began-i-had-no-idea-what-this/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/chinua-achebe-781_come_i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-be_750633.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/chinua-achebe-781_come_i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-be_750633.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64b/chinua-achebe-781_come_i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-be_750633.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm a practised writer now. But when I began, I had no idea what this was going to be. I just knew that…” — Chinua Achebe", "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": "Chinua Achebe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm a practised writer now. But...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-began-i-had-no-idea-what-this/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/i-m-a-practised-writer-now-but-when-i-began-i-had-no-idea-what-this/#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 } } ] } ```