--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not the most talented writer in the…" description: "\"I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt off, and that I make myself write..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/david-b-coe-28992_afford_i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the_41172.jpg" --- # I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know… ![“I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt off, and that I make myself write as much as I can. Writer's block is a luxury I can't afford. I'm a professional writer, which means that I put my butt in the chair each day, and…” quote by David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/david-b-coe-28992_afford_i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the_41172.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/david-b-coe-28992_afford_i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the_41172.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/david-b-coe-28992_afford_i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the_41172.jpg) > “I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt off, and that I make myself write as much as I can. Writer's block is a luxury I can't afford. I'm a professional writer, which means that I put my butt in the chair each day, and I write. Simple as that.” [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success stems from relentless discipline and consistent effort, not innate talent; treating writing as a daily job eliminates excuses. **In simple terms:** Discipline beats talent. Key Takeaway Show up and write. Themes discipline work ethic perseverance productivity self‑discipline Mood determined focused pragmatic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - daily writing schedule - tight deadlines - creative projects - freelance contracts Key Concepts writer's block professionalism habit formation Practical Applications - content creation - blog publishing Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a habit into a professional routine? - What excuses do you make that block your work? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Luxury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luxury/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Being a writer means expressing with passion your imagination, nightmares, dreams, experiences and reality through words on paper. You are a successful writer when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonnia-kemmer/being-a-writer-means-expressing-with-passion-your-imagination/) [Sonnia Kemmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonnia-kemmer/) > [Writers are troubled about finding time to write and writer's block and publicizing books that aren't books yet. They agonize over how to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/writers-are-troubled-about-finding-time-to-write-and-writer-s-block/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [“But I gotta tell you, I just think to look across this room and automatically assume that somebody else is less aware than me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/but-i-gotta-tell-you-i-just-think-to-look-across-this-room-and/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [...if you are writing without zest, without gusto, without love, without fun, you are only half a writer. It means you are so busy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-you-are-writing-without-zest-without-gusto-without-love-without/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The older you get, the more power you have with language as a writer, which means that you have to be extra responsible for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/the-older-you-get-the-more-power-you-have-with-language-as-a-writer/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [Becoming a writer means being creative enough to find the time and the place in your life for writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-sellers/becoming-a-writer-means-being-creative-enough-to-find-the-time-and/) [Heather Sellers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-sellers/) > [Being a real writer means being able to do the work on a bad day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/being-a-real-writer-means-being-able-to-do-the-work-on-a-bad-day/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Being a writer means crying over the sad parts, even though you already know it’s going to be okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-b-dunkle/being-a-writer-means-crying-over-the-sad-parts-even-though-you/) [Clare B. Dunkle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-b-dunkle/) > [I'm a full-time writer, which means I have the entire day to get my work done. But that can also be bad, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-shapiro/i-m-a-full-time-writer-which-means-i-have-the-entire-day-to-get-my/) [Dani Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-shapiro/) > [“The secret of being a successful writer is--write. Every writer deserves that chance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-ashby/the-secret-of-being-a-successful-writer-is-write-every-writer/) [Millicent Ashby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-ashby/) > [My advice for aspiring writers is threefold.First, read as much as possible, both within and outside the genre you arem working in. By reading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/my-advice-for-aspiring-writers-is-threefold-first-read-as-much-as/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [If somebody gave you several thousand dollars and nothin' to do but write, would you be a writer then? Would you tell your stories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/if-somebody-gave-you-several-thousand-dollars-and-nothin-to-do-but/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Writers are great lovers. They fall in love with other writers. That's how they learn to write. They take on a writer, read everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/writers-are-great-lovers-they-fall-in-love-with-other-writers-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no shortcut to anywhere worth going. There is no substitute for doing the work. Meditate on this every day: I will do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/there-is-no-shortcut-to-anywhere-worth-going-there-is-no-substitute/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“I was thinking: to write and being a writer are two kind of diferrences things. To write is a please. Being a writer is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desi-puspitasari/i-was-thinking-to-write-and-being-a-writer-are-two-kind-of/) [Desi Puspitasari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desi-puspitasari/) ## More by David B. Coe > [Writing about craft has forced me to think more about my own writing technique, and to break down my process in ways that have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/writing-about-craft-has-forced-me-to-think-more-about-my-own-writing/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [I listen to instrumental jazz and bluegrass, but aside from my AM workout, I have no rituals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-listen-to-instrumental-jazz-and-bluegrass-but-aside-from-my-am/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [I can't speak in too much detail about a book or story I'm working on because I find that it takes the energy out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-can-t-speak-in-too-much-detail-about-a-book-or-story-i-m-working-on/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [“she felt that there was a tide within her, moving with the power of the moon and the ocean and the goddess, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/she-felt-that-there-was-a-tide-within-her-moving-with-the-power-of/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [I believe that I improve with every book I write - most writers will probably tell you the same thing. I'm still learning my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-believe-that-i-improve-with-every-book-i-write-most-writers-will/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [Guy Gavriel Kays Tigana is, in my opinion, one of the best, if not the best fantasy novel ever written. Its beautifully written, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/guy-gavriel-kays-tigana-is-in-my-opinion-one-of-the-best-if-not-the/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [I write every day for most of the work day, and I try to write 2,500 words per day... If I don't make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-write-every-day-for-most-of-the-work-day-and-i-try-to-write-2-500/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [Guy Kay is probably my favorite and the writer I most want to emulate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/guy-kay-is-probably-my-favorite-and-the-writer-i-most-want-to-emulate/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [As I write, invariably I encounter more questions and answer those as I go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/as-i-write-invariably-i-encounter-more-questions-and-answer-those-as/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [Before writing, I start with a series of questions, specific things I need to know before I can write the book... That list grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/before-writing-i-start-with-a-series-of-questions-specific-things-i/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [In teaching writing, I'm learning new things about writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/in-teaching-writing-i-m-learning-new-things-about-writing/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [The best writing advice I ever got was "Keep moving forward, don't retreat into rewrites." The worst came from a book that said "Writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/the-best-writing-advice-i-ever-got-was-keep-moving-forward-don-t/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [The closer you can get to your setting and to primary sources, the more authentic your history is going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/the-closer-you-can-get-to-your-setting-and-to-primary-sources-the/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [With a historical setting, I worry about accuracy at every turn... With a created world, I have to worry about all of it holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/with-a-historical-setting-i-worry-about-accuracy-at-every-turn-with-a/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [Wrote my first "novel" when I was six. Studied a bit in college, but then pursued history... But when I started writing professionally, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/wrote-my-first-novel-when-i-was-six-studied-a-bit-in-college-but-then/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) [Explore all 19 David B. Coe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) ## More Afford quotes > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/just-because-you-can-afford-it-doesn-t-mean-you-should-buy-it/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-am-not-a-ph-d-in-economics-or-a-doctorate-in-literature-that-i-can/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) > [I was lucky because I got so successful so early, and when you get successful early, then you can afford to be a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-was-lucky-because-i-got-so-successful-so-early-and-when-you-get/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-have-crooked-toes-from-wearing-boots-that-didn-t-fit-me-because/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they'd like to is because they can't afford to go without their salaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/the-most-common-reason-new-mothers-return-to-work-sooner-than-they-d/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [This fatigue can not afford to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa-ali/this-fatigue-can-not-afford-to-do/) [ISRAA ALI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa-ali/) > [A good player is a good player, it's just that we cannot afford signings that do not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/a-good-player-is-a-good-player-it-s-just-that-we-cannot-afford/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [Unfortunately, some people go to a restaurant, and they aren't really there to enjoy themselves. They're there because they think they deserve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dinicol/unfortunately-some-people-go-to-a-restaurant-and-they-aren-t-really/) Joe Dinicol > [Nobody has so many friends that he can afford to lose one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/nobody-has-so-many-friends-that-he-can-afford-to-lose-one/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [My earliest memories were when my mom would put me in the plays that she was in because she couldn't afford a babysitter... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/my-earliest-memories-were-when-my-mom-would-put-me-in-the-plays-that/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [In Washington journalists can afford to live almost as well as people who work for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-washington-journalists-can-afford-to-live-almost-as-well-as-people/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm a little bit tough because I can't afford to get my heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/i-m-a-little-bit-tough-because-i-can-t-afford-to-get-my-heart-broken/) [Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/) > [As my own boss, I have the opportunity to get to work with great brands like Old Navy, and I get to style some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-goreski/as-my-own-boss-i-have-the-opportunity-to-get-to-work-with-great/) [Brad Goreski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-goreski/) Browse all 784 Afford quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt off, and that I make myself write as much as I can. Writer's block is a luxury I can't afford. 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