--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have always thought of myself as a…" description: "\"I have always thought of myself as a writer, only because I need things to direct, and I can't not write the things that I direct.\" — David Lowery" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/david-lowery-5497_always_i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-wri_1857715.jpg" --- # I have always thought of myself as a writer, only because… ![“I have always thought of myself as a writer, only because I need things to direct, and I can't not write the things that I direct.” quote by David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/david-lowery-5497_always_i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-wri_1857715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/david-lowery-5497_always_i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-wri_1857715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/david-lowery-5497_always_i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-wri_1857715.jpg) > “I have always thought of myself as a writer, only because I need things to direct, and I can't not write the things that I direct.” [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is essential for a director to shape and control the storytelling process. **In simple terms:** Directors need to write. Key Takeaway Write to guide your vision. Themes creativity control discipline Mood reflective determined Type artistic process When to use this quote - film production - creative workshops - personal projects Key Concepts screenwriting directorial vision Questions to Reflect On - What drives your need to write? - How does writing affect your directing? A Different Perspective May limit collaborative input. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-writer-260891/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-things-303554/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-need-813127/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [As a writer, you need a strong sense of self-belief. And when it comes to writing, I've always had that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-frame/as-a-writer-you-need-a-strong-sense-of-self-belief-and-when-it-comes/) [Ronald Frame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-frame/) > [You become a writer because you need to become a writer - nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-paley/you-become-a-writer-because-you-need-to-become-a-writer-nothing-else/) [Grace Paley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-paley/) > [If you want to be a writer, all you need is a piece of paper and a pencil, and I had a manual typewriter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tama-janowitz/if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-all-you-need-is-a-piece-of-paper-and-a/) [Tama Janowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tama-janowitz/) > [I'm nomadic. Even when I'm a visiting professor here at the City University of Hong Kong, in this campus flat, I'm constantly getting up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/i-m-nomadic-even-when-i-m-a-visiting-professor-here-at-the-city/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [I've always felt that the cool thing about being a writer is that all you need is paper to do the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/i-ve-always-felt-that-the-cool-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-all/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [To be a writer you need to see things as they are, and to see things as they are you need a certain basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/to-be-a-writer-you-need-to-see-things-as-they-are-and-to-see-things/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [No writer need feel sorry for himself if he writes and enjoys it, even if he doesn't get paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/no-writer-need-feel-sorry-for-himself-if-he-writes-and-enjoys-it-even/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I've always believed that as an artist, as a writer, you need a lot of contact with other people to make your art good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin-2/i-ve-always-believed-that-as-an-artist-as-a-writer-you-need-a-lot-of/) [N. K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin-2/) > [The hierarchy plays out in the writers room, and you, as a staff writer, need to know your place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-saracho/the-hierarchy-plays-out-in-the-writers-room-and-you-as-a-staff-writer/) [Tanya Saracho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-saracho/) > [As a writer, I need an enormous amount of time alone. Writing is 90 percent procrastination: reading magazines, eating cereal out of the box,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudnick/as-a-writer-i-need-an-enormous-amount-of-time-alone-writing-is-90/) [Paul Rudnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudnick/) > [There are three things you need to be a good writer: you need to read a lot, you need to write a lot, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-shirky/there-are-three-things-you-need-to-be-a-good-writer-you-need-to-read/) [Clay Shirky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-shirky/) > [Getting your foot in the door with some publishing people can be important when you're starting out as a writer, but it's also not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-harbach/getting-your-foot-in-the-door-with-some-publishing-people-can-be/) [Chad Harbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-harbach/) > [There are three reasons for becoming a writer: the first is that you need the money; the second that you have something to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-crisp/there-are-three-reasons-for-becoming-a-writer-the-first-is-that-you/) [Quentin Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-crisp/) > [As a writer, I need a creative outlet and that's why I do stand-up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soupy-sales/as-a-writer-i-need-a-creative-outlet-and-that-s-why-i-do-stand-up/) [Soupy Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soupy-sales/) > [The most important thing is to live an interesting life. Keep your eyes, ears and heart open. Talk to people and visit interesting places,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/the-most-important-thing-is-to-live-an-interesting-life-keep-your/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) ## More by David Lowery > [I certainly did not envisage making a Disney movie. The most I hoped for was to be able to pay my bills. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-certainly-did-not-envisage-making-a-disney-movie-the-most-i-hoped/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [Virginia Woolf's literature really transformed my own ideas about how to formally represent the passage of time and how time affects us. Specifically, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/virginia-woolf-s-literature-really-transformed-my-own-ideas-about-how/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [There is a palpable sense of history in the homes that I choose to occupy. I think that's one of the reasons I gravitate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/there-is-a-palpable-sense-of-history-in-the-homes-that-i-choose-to/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [It's something that you pick up at a history class in college, the idea that history and time is something to which we can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/it-s-something-that-you-pick-up-at-a-history-class-in-college-the/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [The relationships I've had with animals are often some of the most profound. That's why you cry when a dog dies in a movie.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/the-relationships-i-ve-had-with-animals-are-often-some-of-the-most/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I find myself very attached to the places I live, and moving is never easy for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-find-myself-very-attached-to-the-places-i-live-and-moving-is-never/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I have a repository of titles I like in my head, and I am always looking for a movie that I can put one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-have-a-repository-of-titles-i-like-in-my-head-and-i-am-always/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [No two people who make a movie on a certain budget scale are going to achieve the same thing because it just depends on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/no-two-people-who-make-a-movie-on-a-certain-budget-scale-are-going-to/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > ['Ain't Them Bodies Saints' wound up becoming a love story even though it was not initially meant to be one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/ain-t-them-bodies-saints-wound-up-becoming-a-love-story-even-though/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I love film criticism as an art. I think it's a very important thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-love-film-criticism-as-an-art-i-think-it-s-a-very-important-thing/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I love horror films. I love ghost movies and haunted-house movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-love-horror-films-i-love-ghost-movies-and-haunted-house-movies/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I think, with 'St. Nick,' when you're working with a smaller budget, you have fewer risks involved. You're able to take chances with style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-think-with-st-nick-when-you-re-working-with-a-smaller-budget-you/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I find everything in life a little bit sad, but I also find a great deal of hope everywhere I look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-find-everything-in-life-a-little-bit-sad-but-i-also-find-a-great/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I'm sentimental to a fault.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-m-sentimental-to-a-fault/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) > [I guess you can't really turn a camera on outside in Texas without getting Terrence Malick comparisons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-guess-you-can-t-really-turn-a-camera-on-outside-in-texas-without/) [David Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) [Explore all 100 David Lowery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have always thought of myself as a writer, only because I need things to direct, and I can't not write the things that I direct.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Lowery" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-writer-only-because-i-need/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-writer-only-because-i-need/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/david-lowery-5497_always_i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-wri_1857715.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/david-lowery-5497_always_i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-wri_1857715.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4c/david-lowery-5497_always_i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-wri_1857715.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have always thought of myself as a writer, only because I need things to direct, and I can't not write the…” — David Lowery", "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": "David Lowery", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lowery/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have always thought of myself...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-writer-only-because-i-need/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lowery/i-have-always-thought-of-myself-as-a-writer-only-because-i-need/#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 } } ] } ```