--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm always a great student of writers'…" description: "\"I'm always a great student of writers' work habits. Balzac sat at his desk dressed in a monk's robe, and he always had to have a rotten apple on his de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84a/frank-mccourt-2576_apple_i-m-always-a-great-student-of-writers-wo_1061780.png" --- # I'm always a great student of writers' work habits. Balzac… ![“I'm always a great student of writers' work habits. Balzac sat at his desk dressed in a monk's robe, and he always had to have a rotten apple on his desk. The smell of the apple inspired him somehow.” quote by Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84a/frank-mccourt-2576_apple_i-m-always-a-great-student-of-writers-wo_1061780.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84a/frank-mccourt-2576_apple_i-m-always-a-great-student-of-writers-wo_1061780.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84a/frank-mccourt-2576_apple_i-m-always-a-great-student-of-writers-wo_1061780.png) > “I'm always a great student of writers' work habits. Balzac sat at his desk dressed in a monk's robe, and he always had to have a rotten apple on his desk. The smell of the apple inspired him somehow.” [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing writers’ rituals reveals how personal quirks can spark creativity. **In simple terms:** Writers’ habits can inspire work. Key Takeaway Embrace unique habits for creative boost. Themes creativity habits inspiration Mood reflective inspired Type observational motivational When to use this quote - writing sessions - creative brainstorming - artist studios - personal routines Key Concepts personal ritual environmental cue Questions to Reflect On - What personal habit fuels your creativity? - How can you adapt a quirky ritual to your work? A Different Perspective Not everyone can replicate such eccentric rituals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“And just as the Witch Jadis had looked different when you saw her in our world instead of in her own, so the fruit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/and-just-as-the-witch-jadis-had-looked-different-when-you-saw-her-in/) [C.S. 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It was kind of hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilith-saintcrow/the-smell-of-apple-pies-didn-t-quite-fill-the-house-but-it-was-there/) [Lilith Saintcrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilith-saintcrow/) > [Come clean with a child heart Laugh as peaches in the summer wind Let rain on a house roof be a song Let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/come-clean-with-a-child-heart-laugh-as-peaches-in-the-summer-wind-let/) [Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/) > [“It was like training yourself to live on the smell of an apple alone, when what you really wanted was to devour it, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celeste-ng/it-was-like-training-yourself-to-live-on-the-smell-of-an-apple-alone/) [Celeste Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celeste-ng/) > [“Many of my books emerged from deep online conversations with friends. I merely had to delete their deep ignorant sayings, which nonetheless forced me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/many-of-my-books-emerged-from-deep-online-conversations-with-friends/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [“let one rotten apple spoil the apple pie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sample/let-one-rotten-apple-spoil-the-apple-pie/) [Cindy Sample](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sample/) > [The rotten apple spoils his companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-rotten-apple-spoils-his-companion/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“The rotten apple spoils his companions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-rotten-apple-spoils-his-companions/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Readers don't work for writers. 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It was a slow process for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-m-not-one-of-those-james-joyce-intellectuals-who-can-stand-back-and/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [I admire certain priests and nuns who go off on their own and do God's work on their own, who help in the ghettos,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/i-admire-certain-priests-and-nuns-who-go-off-on-their-own-and-do-god/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [When I act tough they listen politely till the spasm passes. They know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/when-i-act-tough-they-listen-politely-till-the-spasm-passes-they-know/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Just luxuriate in a certain memory, and the details will come. 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But I look at the best-seller list and see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/a-lot-of-people-say-writers-start-losing-their-powers-after-60-or-65/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [“When the dark clouds flutter like bats in my head I wish I could open a window and release them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/when-the-dark-clouds-flutter-like-bats-in-my-head-i-wish-i-could-open/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [Shakespeare is like mashed potatoes, you can never get enough of him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mccourt/shakespeare-is-like-mashed-potatoes-you-can-never-get-enough-of-him/) [Frank McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mccourt/) > [I just have to proceed as usual. 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I think Steve Jobs has started one of the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-rock/i-m-not-only-a-fan-of-apple-products-i-have-stock-in-the-company-i/) [Kid Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-rock/) > [When Apple introduced its game-changing iPhone in 2007, Nokia was caught sleeping on the job. Although it had actually developed an iPhone-style device -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noreena-hertz/when-apple-introduced-its-game-changing-iphone-in-2007-nokia-was/) [Noreena Hertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noreena-hertz/) > [I like to make pies. That's kind of my new obsession - peach, blueberry, apple, strawberry. 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It just happens to miss Earth every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-dediu/like-a-satellite-in-orbit-apple-is-perpetually-falling-it-just/) Horace Dediu > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [To the extent that anyone anywhere does anything interesting, the question is: 'Why isn't Apple doing that; why is Apple behind in that?' We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-federighi/to-the-extent-that-anyone-anywhere-does-anything-interesting-the/) [Craig Federighi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-federighi/) > [I read the Steve Jobs book, and that kind of changed everything. 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