--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm not acting, I'm writing…" description: "\"When I'm not acting, I'm writing, building an inventory of scripts. Even if they sit on the shelf, I just keep stacking them up.\" — Dan Aykroyd" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/dan-aykroyd-10070_acting_when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building_3232231.jpg" --- # When I'm not acting, I'm writing, building an inventory of… ![“When I'm not acting, I'm writing, building an inventory of scripts. Even if they sit on the shelf, I just keep stacking them up.” quote by Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/dan-aykroyd-10070_acting_when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building_3232231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/dan-aykroyd-10070_acting_when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building_3232231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/dan-aykroyd-10070_acting_when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building_3232231.jpg) > “When I'm not acting, I'm writing, building an inventory of scripts. Even if they sit on the shelf, I just keep stacking them up.” [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker treats writing scripts as a habit, constantly creating even if unused. **In simple terms:** He keeps creating scripts regardless of immediate use. Key Takeaway Keep creating, even without immediate payoff. Themes creativity productivity habit stockpiling Mood reflective determined Type advice personal When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - TV writing - personal development - project planning Key Concepts writing inventory management creative process Questions to Reflect On - How does you habit of stockpiling ideas affect your work? - Do you review and prune your script inventory? A Different Perspective Unrealized scripts may never be applied, leading to wasted effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You can't just keep stacking up things and not go and live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/you-can-t-just-keep-stacking-up-things-and-not-go-and-live/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [Besides buying a mansion or something, everything I wanted I always got. I'm just ready to invest it and save it. Otherwise, life can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/besides-buying-a-mansion-or-something-everything-i-wanted-i-always/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [And it has to do with having no inventory or stockpiles on the shelf, but items arrive as you need to build your product.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/and-it-has-to-do-with-having-no-inventory-or-stockpiles-on-the-shelf/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [Writing, for me, when I'm writing in the first-person, is like a form of acting. So as I'm writing, the character or self I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-heti/writing-for-me-when-i-m-writing-in-the-first-person-is-like-a-form-of/) [Sheila Heti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-heti/) > [I've been acting for so long it's more like - I won't say easy, exactly, but there's not the same angst with writing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/i-ve-been-acting-for-so-long-it-s-more-like-i-won-t-say-easy-exactly/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [There is nothing that one can say about acting, writing, producing or directing that cannot be revoked in the next breath. Nothing is immutable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moss-hart/there-is-nothing-that-one-can-say-about-acting-writing-producing-or/) [Moss Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moss-hart/) > [I'm way more in my head acting than I am when I'm writing. So there's a weird love/hate on both ends. But writing, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-holm/i-m-way-more-in-my-head-acting-than-i-am-when-i-m-writing-so-there-s/) [Anders Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-holm/) > [I treat both acting and writing as a creation - writing is just another element or aspect of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meital-dohan/i-treat-both-acting-and-writing-as-a-creation-writing-is-just-another/) [Meital Dohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meital-dohan/) > [I think in some ways, acting and writing are the same. You're getting inside the skin of someone else; you're creating their language and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wittrock/i-think-in-some-ways-acting-and-writing-are-the-same-you-re-getting/) [Finn Wittrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wittrock/) > [In any creative endeavor, you do have to sort of take your shots. Nobody is going to beg you to go into the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/in-any-creative-endeavor-you-do-have-to-sort-of-take-your-shots/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [I always enjoyed writing. I did playlets in high school, I did radio shows in college. That's one of the reasons I went down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-castellaneta/i-always-enjoyed-writing-i-did-playlets-in-high-school-i-did-radio/) [Dan Castellaneta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-castellaneta/) > [I'm not an emotional person; I keep it in, and I wouldn't know how to get it out if it weren't for acting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelsan-ellis/i-m-not-an-emotional-person-i-keep-it-in-and-i-wouldn-t-know-how-to/) [Nelsan Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelsan-ellis/) > [I was participating in acting and writing for other shows and I knew that eventually I wanted a sitcom of my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinta-brunson/i-was-participating-in-acting-and-writing-for-other-shows-and-i-knew/) [Quinta Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinta-brunson/) > [Often actors ask me if I think they should go on trying to be an actor. I have the same answer for everyone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shurtleff/often-actors-ask-me-if-i-think-they-should-go-on-trying-to-be-an/) [Michael Shurtleff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shurtleff/) > [I think I just want to leave my mark in some way. I hope I leave the world a better place than it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-think-i-just-want-to-leave-my-mark-in-some-way-i-hope-i-leave-the/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) ## More by Dan Aykroyd > [I get offers all the time from film makers, but they are unknown quantities. I don't go there and do experiments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-get-offers-all-the-time-from-film-makers-but-they-are-unknown/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [Greetings and death to our enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/greetings-and-death-to-our-enemies/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [I love to come in and play with a wig or glasses or clothes. I love using props. I'm from the Peter Sellers school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-love-to-come-in-and-play-with-a-wig-or-glasses-or-clothes-i-love/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [I live in a high rise with my family part of the year in New York and I don't know three quarters of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-live-in-a-high-rise-with-my-family-part-of-the-year-in-new-york-and/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [Heaven to me is percussion and bass, a screaming guitar and a burbling Hammond B-3 organ. It's a soup I love being immersed in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/heaven-to-me-is-percussion-and-bass-a-screaming-guitar-and-a-burbling/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [I don't like people lying to me. I don't like people who don't return my calls. I don't like people who won't give me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-don-t-like-people-lying-to-me-i-don-t-like-people-who-don-t-return/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [I get really grinchy right up until Christmas morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-get-really-grinchy-right-up-until-christmas-morning/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [“I wrote many things for and with John. I know this is one assignment he'd rather I didn't have to take on. Although I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-wrote-many-things-for-and-with-john-i-know-this-is-one-assignment/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [Can't get around the old minimum wage, Mortimer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/can-t-get-around-the-old-minimum-wage-mortimer/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [I drive a V10 Ford Excursion and I have to tell folks all the time: look I've got five kids and a dog and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-drive-a-v10-ford-excursion-and-i-have-to-tell-folks-all-the-time/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [You know, I've sold a lot of bad movies in my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/you-know-i-ve-sold-a-lot-of-bad-movies-in-my-time/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [Everyone fears the cut of the blade. It doesn't matter after that. I know the spirit survives as there is so much evidence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/everyone-fears-the-cut-of-the-blade-it-doesn-t-matter-after-that-i/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [My parents never had any money. It was cash flow. It flows, and you got your fingers in it for a little while, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/my-parents-never-had-any-money-it-was-cash-flow-it-flows-and-you-got/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [My first jobs were all civil service. At 14, I worked for the Canadian National Railways. At 16, I worked for the Canadian Penitentiary Service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/my-first-jobs-were-all-civil-service-at-14-i-worked-for-the-canadian/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [I grew up on the edge of a national park in Canada, timber wolves, creeks, snow drifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/i-grew-up-on-the-edge-of-a-national-park-in-canada-timber-wolves/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) [Explore all 68 Dan Aykroyd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I'm not acting, I'm writing, building an inventory of scripts. Even if they sit on the shelf, I just keep stacking them up.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dan Aykroyd" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building-an-inventory-of-scripts-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building-an-inventory-of-scripts-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/dan-aykroyd-10070_acting_when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building_3232231.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/dan-aykroyd-10070_acting_when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building_3232231.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/dan-aykroyd-10070_acting_when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building_3232231.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I'm not acting, I'm writing, building an inventory of scripts. Even if they sit on the shelf, I just…” — Dan Aykroyd", "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": "Dan Aykroyd", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I'm not acting, I'm writing,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building-an-inventory-of-scripts-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/when-i-m-not-acting-i-m-writing-building-an-inventory-of-scripts-even/#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 } } ] } ```