--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I visit schools and talk to students…" description: "\"When I visit schools and talk to students about writing, I give them one word of advice and I give it to them quickly and loudly-FINISH! Starting somet..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/e-l-konigsburg-17069_advice_when-i-visit-schools-and-talk-to-student_839943.jpg" --- # When I visit schools and talk to students about writing, I… ![“When I visit schools and talk to students about writing, I give them one word of advice and I give it to them quickly and loudly-FINISH! Starting something is easier than finishing it. You must have discipline to go from a few sentences, to a few paragraphs, to a piece of writing that has a…” quote by E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/e-l-konigsburg-17069_advice_when-i-visit-schools-and-talk-to-student_839943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/e-l-konigsburg-17069_advice_when-i-visit-schools-and-talk-to-student_839943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/645/e-l-konigsburg-17069_advice_when-i-visit-schools-and-talk-to-student_839943.jpg) > “When I visit schools and talk to students about writing, I give them one word of advice and I give it to them quickly and loudly-FINISH! Starting something is easier than finishing it. You must have discipline to go from a few sentences, to a few paragraphs, to a piece of writing that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Finishing something bridges the difference between someone who has talent and one who does not. My best advice? Apply the seat of your pants to the seat of your chair-and finish. FINISH!” [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discipline and persistence turn ideas into complete works; finishing distinguishes talent from mediocrity. **In simple terms:** Finishing work shows true skill. Key Takeaway Prioritize completion over starting. Themes discipline completion talent productivity Mood determined inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - school writing assignments - personal projects - academic papers - creative writing - business reports Key Concepts growth mindset self‑regulation craftsmanship Questions to Reflect On - What prevents you from finishing projects? - How can you build habits that ensure completion? A Different Perspective Finishing can be hindered by perfectionism or lack of resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Best advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-advice/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Words of advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-advice/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-s-naipaul/i-read-a-piece-of-writing-and-within-a-paragraph-or-two-i-know/) [V. S. Naipaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-s-naipaul/) > [When I teach sketch writing, there's still a beginning, middle and end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rash/when-i-teach-sketch-writing-there-s-still-a-beginning-middle-and-end/) [Jim Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rash/) > [When I first started writing in the beginning, it was very much surrounding the idea of escape and of fantasy, then when I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-parks/when-i-first-started-writing-in-the-beginning-it-was-very-much/) [Arlo Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-parks/) > [The idea of writing, to me, was, from the beginning, was writing something which was a little different from the ordinary exchange of speech.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin/the-idea-of-writing-to-me-was-from-the-beginning-was-writing/) [W. S. 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Sometimes, I'm just stubbron.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigia-stephens/sometimes-i-m-brave-sometimes-i-m-just-stubbron/) [Nigia Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigia-stephens/) > [The merit in action lies in finishing it to the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genghis-khan/the-merit-in-action-lies-in-finishing-it-to-the-end/) [Genghis Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genghis-khan/) > [The best part of all, the absolutely most delicious part, is finishing it and then doing it over I rewrite a lot, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/the-best-part-of-all-the-absolutely-most-delicious-part-is-finishing/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) ## More by E. L. Konigsburg > [I was born in New York City. But my family moved when I was still an infant. Except for a year and half when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/i-was-born-in-new-york-city-but-my-family-moved-when-i-was-still-an/) [E. L. 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Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [“Having words and explanations for things is too modern”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/having-words-and-explanations-for-things-is-too-modern/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [“Had she been born 500 years sooner, Raphael would have chosen her as a model for his cherubs. Tendrils of bright red hair framed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/had-she-been-born-500-years-sooner-raphael-would-have-chosen-her-as-a/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [Kids want acceptance from their peers, but in two different, opposing ways: They want to be like everyone else and they want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/kids-want-acceptance-from-their-peers-but-in-two-different-opposing/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [The adventure is over. Everything gets over, and nothing is ever enough. Except the part you carry with you. It's the same as going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/the-adventure-is-over-everything-gets-over-and-nothing-is-ever-enough-2/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [Biding one's time is a very different thing from patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/biding-one-s-time-is-a-very-different-thing-from-patience/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [I think most of us are outsiders. And I think that's good because it makes you question things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/i-think-most-of-us-are-outsiders-and-i-think-that-s-good-because-it/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [Sometimes silence is a habit that hurts?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/sometimes-silence-is-a-habit-that-hurts/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) > [Nathan, how can you stand playing the same piece over and over again?" And Grandpa Nate answered, "Why don't you ask me how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-konigsburg/nathan-how-can-you-stand-playing-the-same-piece-over-and-over-again/) [E. L. Konigsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) [Explore all 38 E. L. Konigsburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-konigsburg/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. 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And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. 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