--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I took a correspondence course with a guy…" description: "\"I took a correspondence course with a guy at Ohio University. He gave me ten exercises, and one of them resulted in the story \"Bactine.\" It pleased me ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/donald-ray-pollock-7796_correspondence_i-took-a-correspondence-course-with-a-gu_2456965.png" --- # I took a correspondence course with a guy at Ohio… ![“I took a correspondence course with a guy at Ohio University. He gave me ten exercises, and one of them resulted in the story "Bactine." It pleased me a lot more than anything else I'd ever done, so I kept messing around and by the time I got to Ohio State I'd written maybe eight stories.” quote by Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/donald-ray-pollock-7796_correspondence_i-took-a-correspondence-course-with-a-gu_2456965.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/donald-ray-pollock-7796_correspondence_i-took-a-correspondence-course-with-a-gu_2456965.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53d/donald-ray-pollock-7796_correspondence_i-took-a-correspondence-course-with-a-gu_2456965.png) > “I took a correspondence course with a guy at Ohio University. He gave me ten exercises, and one of them resulted in the story "Bactine." It pleased me a lot more than anything else I'd ever done, so I kept messing around and by the time I got to Ohio State I'd written maybe eight stories.” [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing early practice sparked a creative habit that grew into a prolific output of stories. **In simple terms:** Early writing led to many stories. Key Takeaway Keep writing regularly to develop skill. Themes creativity discipline habit formation Mood reflective motivational Type personal anecdote inspirational When to use this quote - college writing - personal journals - creative workshops - self‑directed projects Key Concepts storytelling creative process early practice Questions to Reflect On - What habits helped you maintain writing momentum? - How does early success influence long‑term creativity? A Different Perspective The quote may overstate the ease of sustaining momentum without external feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Correspondence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correspondence/) [Correspondence Course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correspondence-course-618726/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Eight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eight/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Ohio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ohio/) [Ohio state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ohio-state/) [Ohio University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ohio-university-618727/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Bactine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-bactine-618725/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Took Correspondence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/took-correspondence-618728/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) [University Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university-gave-618729/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) ## Related quotes > [I started going to Ohio University when I was in my mid-thirties, ended up with an English degree when I was forty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-started-going-to-ohio-university-when-i-was-in-my-mid-thirties/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I've finished 12th standard from Poddar International and enrolled for B.A. in political science in Cambridge University, London. It's a correspondence course, and I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hansika-motwani/i-ve-finished-12th-standard-from-poddar-international-and-enrolled/) [Hansika Motwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hansika-motwani/) > [Virginia State University gave me a chance to get out of my neighborhood and it showed me a different light for who I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-morgan/virginia-state-university-gave-me-a-chance-to-get-out-of-my/) [Rob Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-morgan/) > [I went to Ohio University studying arts and history, and playing football. But I was only interested in girls, my pals and sports. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-neill/i-went-to-ohio-university-studying-arts-and-history-and-playing/) [Ed O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-neill/) > [Personally, I liked working for the university. They gave us money and facilities. We didn't have to produce anything. You've never been out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-aykroyd/personally-i-liked-working-for-the-university-they-gave-us-money-and/) [Dan Aykroyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-aykroyd/) > [I remember a class I taught at Ohio State where I assigned a Mary Gaitskill story, which really wasn't that bad, and I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-remember-a-class-i-taught-at-ohio-state-where-i-assigned-a-mary/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [“You Are What You Eat Take food for example. We all assume that our craving or disgust is due to something about the food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-what-you-eat-take-food-for-example-we-all-assume-that-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ From him \[Wilard Bennett\] I learned how different a working laboratory is from a student laboratory. The answers are not known! \[While an undergraduate,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-m-fowler/from-him-wilard-bennett-i-learned-how-different-a-working-laboratory/) [William M. Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-m-fowler/) > [It has been a dream of mine to play for Ohio State. This prestigious university best represents my family values, and playing under Urban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-haskins/it-has-been-a-dream-of-mine-to-play-for-ohio-state-this-prestigious/) [Dwayne Haskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-haskins/) > [I feel blessed. All the great running backs that have come through Ohio State - Archie Griffin, Eddie George, Beanie Wells - I'm happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/i-feel-blessed-all-the-great-running-backs-that-have-come-through/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) > [Ohio State is an up and down team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booger-mcfarland/ohio-state-is-an-up-and-down-team/) [Booger McFarland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booger-mcfarland/) > [Ohio State created me. They created what they suspended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-clarett/ohio-state-created-me-they-created-what-they-suspended/) [Maurice Clarett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-clarett/) > [I feel blessed to be able to do these events. As I travel around, I'm fully cognizant that there are a lot of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcdonough/i-feel-blessed-to-be-able-to-do-these-events-as-i-travel-around-i-m/) [Sean McDonough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcdonough/) > [At Ohio State University, to avoid being guilty of 'sexual assault' or 'sexual violence,' you and your partner now apparently have to agree on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/at-ohio-state-university-to-avoid-being-guilty-of-sexual-assault-or/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I think at Ohio State, we're professional athletes in Columbus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezekiel-elliott/i-think-at-ohio-state-we-re-professional-athletes-in-columbus/) [Ezekiel Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezekiel-elliott/) ## More by Donald Ray Pollock > [“Strangers complained about the stench, but the locals liked to brag that it was the sweet smell of money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/strangers-complained-about-the-stench-but-the-locals-liked-to-brag/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I don't really think the outburst is recent; there have always been writers in Appalachia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-don-t-really-think-the-outburst-is-recent-there-have-always-been/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Unless he had whiskey running through his veins, Willard came to the clearing every morning and evening to talk to God. Arvin didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/unless-he-had-whiskey-running-through-his-veins-willard-came-to-the/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [For example, if it's a sad scene, I need to feel that way, at least to a slight degree and for a short while,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/for-example-if-it-s-a-sad-scene-i-need-to-feel-that-way-at-least-to-a/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [As for how I feel about any success I've had, I just feel extremely lucky. Writing is a tough racket, and there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/as-for-how-i-feel-about-any-success-i-ve-had-i-just-feel-extremely/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Part of the reason might be that I was born in 1954 and I look upon my youth with great fondness, like many old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/part-of-the-reason-might-be-that-i-was-born-in-1954-and-i-look-upon/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ I've never heard of that anthology \[Vance Randolph, Pissing in the Snow\], but you can be sure I'll buy it now. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-ve-never-heard-of-that-anthology-vance-randolph-pissing-in-the-snow/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [When I first started out, I was trying to write stories about nurses and lawyers and a lot of people I didn't know anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-first-started-out-i-was-trying-to-write-stories-about-nurses/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [“It's hard to live a good life...It seems like the Devil don't ever let up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/it-s-hard-to-live-a-good-life-it-seems-like-the-devil-don-t-ever-let/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [I'm not sure what the proper label might be, or the most accurate one, but someone once called my stuff Southern Ohio Gothic and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-m-not-sure-what-the-proper-label-might-be-or-the-most-accurate-one/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [Don't get me wrong: I think that everyone should put forth an effort to do better, but let's face it, some of us are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/don-t-get-me-wrong-i-think-that-everyone-should-put-forth-an-effort/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ I look upon \[writing about religion\] as a nice way to get by in this precarious world, though I've never been able to do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/i-look-upon-writing-about-religion-as-a-nice-way-to-get-by-in-this/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [ \[Degree in English\] gave me a little more self-confidence, to know that I'd managed to complete something like that. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/degree-in-english-gave-me-a-little-more-self-confidence-to-know-that/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [When I was growing up, I always wanted to be somebody else and live somewhere else. I've always felt a little uncomfortable around people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/when-i-was-growing-up-i-always-wanted-to-be-somebody-else-and-live/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) > [There are a lot of writers from the South who would probably have once figured they needed to go to New York to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-ray-pollock/there-are-a-lot-of-writers-from-the-south-who-would-probably-have/) [Donald Ray Pollock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) [Explore all 87 Donald Ray Pollock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-ray-pollock/) ## More Correspondence quotes > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In proportion as our inward life fails, we go more constantly and desperately to the post office. You may depend on it, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/in-proportion-as-our-inward-life-fails-we-go-more-constantly-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [It seems a long time since the morning mail could be called correspondence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/it-seems-a-long-time-since-the-morning-mail-could-be-called/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [Truth is exact correspondence with reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/truth-is-exact-correspondence-with-reality/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“Subject: This is a work environment and this is harassment Mr. Zaccadelli, I am writing to inform you that your proposition has been rejected.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-m-cameron/subject-this-is-a-work-environment-and-this-is-harassment-mr/) [Chelsea M. Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-m-cameron/) > [Modern man, seeking a middle position in the evaluation of sense impression and thought, can, following Plato , interpret the process of understanding nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-pauli/modern-man-seeking-a-middle-position-in-the-evaluation-of-sense/) [Wolfgang Pauli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-pauli/) > [Opened Christmas cards hum to me the hymn of love and teach me the sacrament of correspondence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-hays/opened-christmas-cards-hum-to-me-the-hymn-of-love-and-teach-me-the/) [Edward M Hays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-hays/) > [“All my life I have written letters - to our mother, our relatives, a wide circle of friends and acquaintance, to my husband, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-sherman/all-my-life-i-have-written-letters-to-our-mother-our-relatives-a-wide/) [Delia Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-sherman/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [He was extremely reticent in his religious sentiments, at least in all that he wrote. Allusions to his belief are rarely, if ever, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-coit-gilman/he-was-extremely-reticent-in-his-religious-sentiments-at-least-in-all/) [Daniel Coit Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-coit-gilman/) > [Common to the two geometries is only the general property of one-to-one correspondence, and the rule that this correspondence determines straight lines as shortest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-reichenbach/common-to-the-two-geometries-is-only-the-general-property-of-one-to/) [Hans Reichenbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-reichenbach/) > [It is interesting thus to follow the intellectual truths of analysis in the phenomena of nature. This correspondence, of which the system of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-simon-laplace/it-is-interesting-thus-to-follow-the-intellectual-truths-of-analysis/) [Pierre-Simon Laplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-simon-laplace/) > [“I am in no mood to fulminate on paper--I wish the two of us were in a room together talking of what matters most,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-bauer/i-am-in-no-mood-to-fulminate-on-paper-i-wish-the-two-of-us-were-in-a/) [Carlene Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-bauer/) > [Well, well. IM (and correspondence GM) Douglas Bryson once told me that he almost never plays a game that flows smoothly from start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rowson/well-well-im-and-correspondence-gm-douglas-bryson-once-told-me-that/) [Jonathan Rowson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rowson/) > [To converse at the distance of the Indes by means of sympathetic contrivances may be as natural to future times as to us is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/to-converse-at-the-distance-of-the-indes-by-means-of-sympathetic/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) [Browse all 174 Correspondence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/correspondence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I took a correspondence course with a guy at Ohio University. 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