--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 35, had always wanted to write…" description: "\"I was 35, had always wanted to write novels, and thought that I had better do it while I was young enough.\" — Diana Gabaldon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/diana-gabaldon-185_always_i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-nove_1382070.jpg" --- # I was 35, had always wanted to write novels, and thought… ![“I was 35, had always wanted to write novels, and thought that I had better do it while I was young enough.” quote by Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/diana-gabaldon-185_always_i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-nove_1382070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/diana-gabaldon-185_always_i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-nove_1382070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/diana-gabaldon-185_always_i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-nove_1382070.jpg) > “I was 35, had always wanted to write novels, and thought that I had better do it while I was young enough.” [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She felt urgency to write novels while still young, fearing later opportunities would fade. **In simple terms:** Write early before age limits. Key Takeaway Start writing now. Themes creativity age urgency Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - personal projects - skill development Key Concepts literary ambition time sensitivity Questions to Reflect On - What project have you delayed due to age? - How can maturity improve your writing? A Different Perspective Age is not the only factor; experience also matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Novels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novels/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I suppose I have written novels to find out what I thought about something and poems to find out what I felt about something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/i-suppose-i-have-written-novels-to-find-out-what-i-thought-about/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I was convinced that the only thing I wanted to do ever - was write novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-was-convinced-that-the-only-thing-i-wanted-to-do-ever-was-write/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“Producing works of art doesn't often count as appropriate intellectual work in an arts department: yet the equivalent in a science department, doing physics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/producing-works-of-art-doesn-t-often-count-as-appropriate/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [I knew I wanted to write novels, but I could not finish what I started. The closer I got, the more ways I'd find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/i-knew-i-wanted-to-write-novels-but-i-could-not-finish-what-i-started/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [I'm a novelist at heart. How's that? And that's how I make my living, is I write novels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-m-a-novelist-at-heart-how-s-that-and-that-s-how-i-make-my-living-is/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [What I write about in my novels is also what's in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elin-hilderbrand/what-i-write-about-in-my-novels-is-also-what-s-in-my-life/) [Elin Hilderbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elin-hilderbrand/) > [People without hope not only don't write novels, but what is more to the point, they don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/people-without-hope-not-only-don-t-write-novels-but-what-is-more-to/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [I write my novels in English first; then they are translated into Turkish by professional translators. Then I take their translation and rewrite. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-safak/i-write-my-novels-in-english-first-then-they-are-translated-into/) [Elif Safak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-safak/) > [If I wanted to be in movies, I'd have gone into scriptwriting: the fact that I write novels should be a big hint about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/if-i-wanted-to-be-in-movies-i-d-have-gone-into-scriptwriting-the-fact/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [When I write novels, it's just me alone in a room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-serle/when-i-write-novels-it-s-just-me-alone-in-a-room/) [Rebecca Serle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-serle/) > [People who actually tell stories, meaning people who write novels and make feature films, don't see themselves as storytellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-sagmeister/people-who-actually-tell-stories-meaning-people-who-write-novels-and/) [Stefan Sagmeister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-sagmeister/) > [I find screenplays easy to write, my novels being very visual. You see what people look like. The physical action is described.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/i-find-screenplays-easy-to-write-my-novels-being-very-visual-you-see/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed. I am not a fan of books ... I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/sometimes-people-write-novels-and-they-just-be-so-wordy-and-so-self/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I write novels and other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/i-write-novels-and-other-things/) [Jack L. Chalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-l-chalker/) > [I am trying to write novels for properly clever people, but I also want them to be proper novels that also stick in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hannah/i-am-trying-to-write-novels-for-properly-clever-people-but-i-also/) [Sophie Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hannah/) ## More by Diana Gabaldon > [Alright, all right," I said. "What if I tell you a story, instead?" Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception. "Oh, aye, "…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/alright-all-right-i-said-what-if-i-tell-you-a-story-instead/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [There were moments, of course. Those small spaces in time, too soon gone, when everything seems to stand still, and existence is balanced on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/there-were-moments-of-course-those-small-spaces-in-time-too-soon-gone/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When I turned 35, I thought, 'Mozart was dead at 36, so I set the bar: I'm going to start writing a book on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-i-turned-35-i-thought-mozart-was-dead-at-36-so-i-set-the-bar-i-m/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I stagger out of bed, take the dogs outside, and then I'll get a Diet Coke and a couple of dog biscuits and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-stagger-out-of-bed-take-the-dogs-outside-and-then-i-ll-get-a-diet/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“It was…hard. I didna call out, or let them see I was scairt, but I couldna keep my feet. Halfway through it, I fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/it-was-hard-i-didna-call-out-or-let-them-see-i-was-scairt-but-i/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I have all the time and space in the world when I write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-have-all-the-time-and-space-in-the-world-when-i-write-a-book/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I discovered that, given the indescribable nature of what I write, the only way to sell it is to give people free samples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-discovered-that-given-the-indescribable-nature-of-what-i-write-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“We are bound,you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."One large hand rose to stroke my hair. "D'ye mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/we-are-bound-you-and-i-and-nothing-on-this-earth-shall-part-me-from/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [I think characters are going to be, if not a reflection of the author, at least some refraction of some part of their personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-think-characters-are-going-to-be-if-not-a-reflection-of-the-author/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [My husband asked me once why I read so many mysteries, and part of it is just intellectual, part of it is the joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-husband-asked-me-once-why-i-read-so-many-mysteries-and-part-of-it/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“My Da says you’re never drunk, so long as ye can hold on to the floor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/my-da-says-you-re-never-drunk-so-long-as-ye-can-hold-on-to-the-floor/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [When you're an artist, you can't write with the intent of affecting anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/when-you-re-an-artist-you-can-t-write-with-the-intent-of-affecting/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“But a man is not forgotten, as long as there are two people left under the sky. One, to tell the story; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/but-a-man-is-not-forgotten-as-long-as-there-are-two-people-left-under/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“I didn’t answer, occupied in dissolving the penicillin tablets in the vial of sterile water. I selected a glass barrel, fitted a needle, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-didn-t-answer-occupied-in-dissolving-the-penicillin-tablets-in-the/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) [Explore all 952 Diana Gabaldon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was 35, had always wanted to write novels, and thought that I had better do it while I was young enough.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Diana Gabaldon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-novels-and-thought-that-i-had/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Always" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-novels-and-thought-that-i-had/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/diana-gabaldon-185_always_i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-nove_1382070.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/diana-gabaldon-185_always_i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-nove_1382070.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b5/diana-gabaldon-185_always_i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-nove_1382070.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was 35, had always wanted to write novels, and thought that I had better do it while I was young enough.” — Diana Gabaldon", "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": "Diana Gabaldon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was 35, had always wanted...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-novels-and-thought-that-i-had/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-was-35-had-always-wanted-to-write-novels-and-thought-that-i-had/#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 } } ] } ```