--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: writing is a very lonely occupation. You…" description: "\"“writing is a very lonely occupation. You have no colleagues, but your office space is shared with countless horrible little demons of self-doubt, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/daphne-kapsali-230669_colleagues_writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you_2430598.jpg" --- # writing is a very lonely occupation. You have no… ![“writing is a very lonely occupation. You have no colleagues, but your office space is shared with countless horrible little demons of self-doubt, and insecurity, despondency and hopelessness. And they’re not very supportive at all. It’s hard enough pouring your soul into something that may just…” quote by Daphne Kapsali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/daphne-kapsali-230669_colleagues_writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you_2430598.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/daphne-kapsali-230669_colleagues_writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you_2430598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/daphne-kapsali-230669_colleagues_writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you_2430598.jpg) > ““writing is a very lonely occupation. You have no colleagues, but your office space is shared with countless horrible little demons of self-doubt, and insecurity, despondency and hopelessness. And they’re not very supportive at all. It’s hard enough pouring your soul into something that may just come to absolutely nothing, without feeling that no one gives a shit, one way or the other. You need accountability, and sometimes all it takes is someone to show an interest, ask a question or two, acknowledge this scary, crazy thing you’re doing. And it keeps the demons quiet for a little while.”” Daphne Kapsali ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing can feel isolating, haunted by self‑doubt and insecurity; accountability and supportive inquiry can quiet inner critics. **In simple terms:** Writing loneliness is eased by external support. Key Takeaway Seek feedback and community. Themes writing loneliness self‑doubt accountability creative process mental health Mood isolated encouraging Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - author workshops - peer review - mental health practice Key Concepts psychology social support creative resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you build a supportive writing network? - What strategies reduce self‑criticism? A Different Perspective The perspective may not apply to all writers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask A Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-a-question/) [Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I do paint, and I wanted to actually be a painter. Sometimes I'll whip out paints. It's tough to find the motivation, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dichen-lachman/i-do-paint-and-i-wanted-to-actually-be-a-painter-sometimes-i-ll-whip/) [Dichen Lachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dichen-lachman/) > [Writing is such a singular and lonely occupation. And it's interesting; all of the work that you create is so singular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-avery/writing-is-such-a-singular-and-lonely-occupation-and-it-s-interesting/) [James Avery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-avery/) > [Writing is a lonely way of life. You shut yourself up in your study and work and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/writing-is-a-lonely-way-of-life-you-shut-yourself-up-in-your-study/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-haley/many-a-young-person-tells-me-he-wants-to-be-a-writer-i-always/) [Alex Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-haley/) > [“Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference. They don't have to make speeches. Just believing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/writing-is-a-lonely-job-having-someone-who-believes-in-you-makes-a/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Writing is a very lonely occupation. To write you need to concentrate, to concentrate you need to lock yourself away. No distractions; you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikas-swarup/writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-to-write-you-need-to-concentrate/) [Vikas Swarup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikas-swarup/) > [“Writing is a lonely pursuit. The only thing working is imagination and hands. The only difference between writing and masturbation is one is presumably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-bell/writing-is-a-lonely-pursuit-the-only-thing-working-is-imagination-and/) Mark Bell > [I tend to like the way poets form communities. Writing can be lonely after all. Modern life can be lonely. Poets do seem to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-tend-to-like-the-way-poets-form-communities-writing-can-be-lonely/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [Writing is a lonely job. Even if a writer socializes regularly, when he gets down to the real business of his life, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/writing-is-a-lonely-job-even-if-a-writer-socializes-regularly-when-he/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Writing is such lonely work that I try to keep myself cheered up. If something strikes me as funny in the act of writing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/writing-is-such-lonely-work-that-i-try-to-keep-myself-cheered-up-if/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [Honestly, I find writing to be a very lonely job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/honestly-i-find-writing-to-be-a-very-lonely-job/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [“It seems important to me that beginning writers ponder this—that since 1964, I have never had a book, story or poem rejected that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-hansen/it-seems-important-to-me-that-beginning-writers-ponder-this-that/) [Joseph Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-hansen/) > [I try to write jokes but when I've written about four I run out. Writing my show is a very lonely place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-key/i-try-to-write-jokes-but-when-i-ve-written-about-four-i-run-out/) [Tim Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-key/) > [Writing is the lonely sport of sad sacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/writing-is-the-lonely-sport-of-sad-sacks/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [“Writing is lonely, it's an intimate talk with the undead, with the unborn, with the absent, with strangers , with the readers who may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/writing-is-lonely-it-s-an-intimate-talk-with-the-undead-with-the/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) ## More Colleagues quotes > [I've never been motivated by money. My peers and colleagues inspire me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-chase/i-ve-never-been-motivated-by-money-my-peers-and-colleagues-inspire-me/) [Robin Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-chase/) > [It's wonderful to see more of my colleagues recognizing the importance of investing in STEM education and scientific research and development.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/it-s-wonderful-to-see-more-of-my-colleagues-recognizing-the/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clarke/i-am-sorry-to-upset-my-colleagues-by-saying-we-wasted-four-years-in/) [Kenneth Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clarke/) > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Don’t let yourself be. Find something new to try, something to change. Count how often it succeeds and how often it doesn’t. Write about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/don-t-let-yourself-be-find-something-new-to-try-something-to-change/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“The whole organization seemed to be in free fall, indulging in a collective fantasy in which experienced colleagues refused to admit that their every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-whole-organization-seemed-to-be-in-free-fall-indulging-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a danger of Scottish politics being between two sets of dinosaurs... the Nationalists who can't accept they were rejected by the people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-lamont/there-is-a-danger-of-scottish-politics-being-between-two-sets-of/) [Johann Lamont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-lamont/) > [We must continue our fight to ensure that Federal, State, and local authorities have the resources and support necessary to combat this growing epidemic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-lewis/we-must-continue-our-fight-to-ensure-that-federal-state-and-local/) [Ron Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-lewis/) > [The questions of traditional and redefined marriage are highly emotional and a difficult and sensitive topic. Living in the D.C. area and having gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-schlapp/the-questions-of-traditional-and-redefined-marriage-are-highly/) [Mercedes Schlapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-schlapp/) > [Very often, we are confronted by people who want us to pray their way or colleagues who want us to think their way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-klemp/very-often-we-are-confronted-by-people-who-want-us-to-pray-their-way/) [Harold Klemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-klemp/) > [For all the civilians saved thanks to the presence of peacekeepers, there have been those who were lost - the United Nations personnel who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-eliasson/for-all-the-civilians-saved-thanks-to-the-presence-of-peacekeepers/) [Jan Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-eliasson/) > [I have always been very calm and with all the triumphs I have had I have always been sure to thank my colleagues and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulinho/i-have-always-been-very-calm-and-with-all-the-triumphs-i-have-had-i/) [Paulinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulinho/) > [As a former undercover CIA officer, I've worked with my colleagues in the 114th Congress to approach the growing terrorist threat from a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hurd/as-a-former-undercover-cia-officer-i-ve-worked-with-my-colleagues-in/) [Will Hurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hurd/) > [ In the end, many of his more militant colleagues began to feel that \[Ho Chi Minh's\] tendency to compromise, and his reluctance to confront… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-duiker/in-the-end-many-of-his-more-militant-colleagues-began-to-feel-that-ho/) [William J. Duiker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-duiker/) [Browse all 1,024 Colleagues quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“writing is a very lonely occupation. You have no colleagues, but your office space is shared with countless horrible little demons of self-doubt, and insecurity, despondency and hopelessness. And they’re not very supportive at all. It’s hard enough pouring your soul into something that may just come to absolutely nothing, without feeling that no one gives a shit, one way or the other. You need accountability, and sometimes all it takes is someone to show an interest, ask a question or two, acknowledge this scary, crazy thing you’re doing. And it keeps the demons quiet for a little while.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daphne Kapsali" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-kapsali/writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you-have-no-colleagues-but-your/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Colleagues" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-kapsali/writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you-have-no-colleagues-but-your/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/daphne-kapsali-230669_colleagues_writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you_2430598.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/daphne-kapsali-230669_colleagues_writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you_2430598.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/daphne-kapsali-230669_colleagues_writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you_2430598.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“writing is a very lonely occupation. You have no colleagues, but your office space is shared with countless…” — Daphne Kapsali", "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": "Daphne Kapsali", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-kapsali/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“writing is a very lonely occupation....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-kapsali/writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you-have-no-colleagues-but-your/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-kapsali/writing-is-a-very-lonely-occupation-you-have-no-colleagues-but-your/#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 } } ] } ```