--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Write in a disciplined manner, but write…" description: "\"Write in a disciplined manner, but write in a way that is natural to the individual's thought processes.\" — Donald McKay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/donald-mckay-55832_discipline_write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write_296620.jpg" --- # Write in a disciplined manner, but write in a way that is… ![“Write in a disciplined manner, but write in a way that is natural to the individual's thought processes.” quote by Donald McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/donald-mckay-55832_discipline_write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write_296620.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/donald-mckay-55832_discipline_write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write_296620.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/donald-mckay-55832_discipline_write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write_296620.jpg) > “Write in a disciplined manner, but write in a way that is natural to the individual's thought processes.” [Donald McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages structured writing that aligns with personal thought flow, balancing discipline with authenticity. **In simple terms:** Write with structure but stay true to your mind. Key Takeaway Blend order with natural expression. Themes discipline authenticity creativity Mood focused reflective Type advice instructional When to use this quote - academic essays - personal journals - blog posts - creative writing Key Concepts cognitive alignment writing process Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain natural voice while following a plan? - What habits support disciplined yet fluid writing? A Different Perspective May feel forced if over‑controlled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Dear John, tell me everything. Write it all down, that way, we’ll be with each other all the time, even if we’re not with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/dear-john-tell-me-everything-write-it-all-down-that-way-we-ll-be-with/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [You can't learn to write that way - by writing directly for the screen. Wait until you're 30. But in the meantime write 200…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-that-way-by-writing-directly-for-the-screen/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I remember thinking during those times that I wanted to write in a way where there are no rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanis-morissette/i-remember-thinking-during-those-times-that-i-wanted-to-write-in-a/) [Alanis Morissette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanis-morissette/) > [“Write the way you want to, not the way you think you should.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-j-mcdonagh/write-the-way-you-want-to-not-the-way-you-think-you-should/) Nicola J. McDonagh > [Write your own part. It is the only way I've gotten anywhere. It is much harder work, but sometimes you have to take destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/write-your-own-part-it-is-the-only-way-i-ve-gotten-anywhere-it-is/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [You will feel discouraged; you will lose confidence in your abilities; you will be bored with the characters–and the only way to overcome these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dufresne/you-will-feel-discouraged-you-will-lose-confidence-in-your-abilities/) [John Dufresne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dufresne/) > [And so I write the way I myself would like the book to be – if I were a child. I write for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/astrid-lindgren/and-so-i-write-the-way-i-myself-would-like-the-book-to-be-if-i-were-a/) [Astrid Lindgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/astrid-lindgren/) > [“whatever I was writing, I was always trying to write my way back to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/whatever-i-was-writing-i-was-always-trying-to-write-my-way-back-to-you/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I'd like to write the way Matisse paints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-d-like-to-write-the-way-matisse-paints/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [“As neanderthals, writing on the caves, I write as a way to behave”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-wahlgren/as-neanderthals-writing-on-the-caves-i-write-as-a-way-to-behave/) J. Michael Wahlgren > [reading is not a passive act. It's a creative act. It's a relationship between the writer and a person the writer will probably never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/reading-is-not-a-passive-act-it-s-a-creative-act-it-s-a-relationship/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I digress a lot - it's how I experience the world. I would like to write in a way that will convey that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/i-digress-a-lot-it-s-how-i-experience-the-world-i-would-like-to-write/) [Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/) > [I probably read 100 times more than I write, but that way when I move my characters through it, I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/i-probably-read-100-times-more-than-i-write-but-that-way-when-i-move/) [Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/) > [The way we learn to write is the way we learn to talk: We listen to others and start mimicking speech, and that's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/the-way-we-learn-to-write-is-the-way-we-learn-to-talk-we-listen-to/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [If you want to be a Roman Catholic scholar and write, you've got to write in such a way that nobody understands what you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/if-you-want-to-be-a-roman-catholic-scholar-and-write-you-ve-got-to/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) ## More by Donald McKay > [To come up with the ending to a story and then work backwards is like tying your shoe with one hand only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/to-come-up-with-the-ending-to-a-story-and-then-work-backwards-is-like/) [Donald McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/) > [I write when the urge hits me, getting the words down as fast as I can type and then I step back from what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/i-write-when-the-urge-hits-me-getting-the-words-down-as-fast-as-i-can/) [Donald McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/) > [I've been a writer for 42 years and, yes, it is a full time job for me. Not a hobby, but serious work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/i-ve-been-a-writer-for-42-years-and-yes-it-is-a-full-time-job-for-me/) [Donald McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/) > [I do not write by any set time schedule. I realize there are many writers who follow a daily regime where they arise at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/i-do-not-write-by-any-set-time-schedule-i-realize-there-are-many/) [Donald McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/) > [My first novel took 12 years to complete because life got in my way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/my-first-novel-took-12-years-to-complete-because-life-got-in-my-way/) [Donald McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/) [Explore all 6 Donald McKay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/) ## More Discipline quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Grit and self-control are related, but they're not the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/grit-and-self-control-are-related-but-they-re-not-the-same-thing/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [“Peace requires a discipline more iron than war. - Easter, 1939 ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-turner/peace-requires-a-discipline-more-iron-than-war-easter-1939/) W.J. Turner > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [Exercise teaches you the pleasure of discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/exercise-teaches-you-the-pleasure-of-discipline/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [I'm always writing. I'm an obsessive. It's not because I'm a disciplined person. It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not being told he is naughty.” “Discipline is, therefore, primarily a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/the-undisciplined-child-enters-into-discipline-by-working-in-the/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) Burne Hogarth > [Self-discipline is an act of cultivation. It require you to connect today's actions to tomorrow's results. There's a season for sowing a season for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-ryan-blair/self-discipline-is-an-act-of-cultivation-it-require-you-to-connect/) [Gary Ryan Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-ryan-blair/) > [The individual, by means of the discipline imposed on him by sport, not only plays and finds relaxation from the various compulsions to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/the-individual-by-means-of-the-discipline-imposed-on-him-by-sport-not/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Cheerfulness in most cheerful people is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-percy-whipple/cheerfulness-in-most-cheerful-people-is-the-rich-and-satisfying/) [Edwin Percy Whipple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-percy-whipple/) > [Stay in your seat come times of trouble. Its only people who jump off the roller coaster who get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-harvey/stay-in-your-seat-come-times-of-trouble-its-only-people-who-jump-off/) [Paul Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-harvey/) [Browse all 5,597 Discipline quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Write in a disciplined manner, but write in a way that is natural to the individual's thought processes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Donald McKay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write-in-a-way-that-is-natural-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discipline" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write-in-a-way-that-is-natural-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/donald-mckay-55832_discipline_write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write_296620.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/donald-mckay-55832_discipline_write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write_296620.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/donald-mckay-55832_discipline_write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write_296620.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Write in a disciplined manner, but write in a way that is natural to the individual's thought processes.” — Donald McKay", "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": "Donald McKay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Write in a disciplined manner, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write-in-a-way-that-is-natural-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/write-in-a-disciplined-manner-but-write-in-a-way-that-is-natural-to/#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 } } ] } ```