---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Beginning authors often get in their own…"
description: "\"Beginning authors often get in their own way … They forget that they’ve been telling stories since they could talk. … The important thing to remember i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/cynthia-leitich-smith-24593_beginning_beginning-authors-often-get-in-their-own_320985.jpg"
---

#  Beginning authors often get in their own way … They forget…

![“Beginning authors often get in their own way … They forget that they’ve been telling stories since they could talk. … The important thing to remember is, you know how to do this. You’ve been doing this your whole life.” quote by Cynthia Leitich Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/cynthia-leitich-smith-24593_beginning_beginning-authors-often-get-in-their-own_320985.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/cynthia-leitich-smith-24593_beginning_beginning-authors-often-get-in-their-own_320985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/347/cynthia-leitich-smith-24593_beginning_beginning-authors-often-get-in-their-own_320985.jpg)

> “Beginning authors often get in their own way … They forget that they’ve been telling stories since they could talk. … The important thing to remember is, you know how to do this. You’ve been doing this your whole life.”

[Cynthia Leitich Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-leitich-smith/)

## About This Quote

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

Writers often doubt themselves despite lifelong storytelling experience; recognizing innate skill restores confidence.

**In simple terms:** Writers forget they’ve always told stories.

Key Takeaway

Trust your natural storytelling ability.

Themes

confidence self-doubt creativity

Mood

encouraging reflective

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- writing workshops
- first drafts
- public speaking
- teaching storytelling

Key Concepts

narrative identity self-efficacy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you harness past storytelling experiences?
- What habits reinforce confidence without complacency?

A Different Perspective

Overconfidence can lead to neglecting skill development.

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