--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm not writing, I tend to get…" description: "\"When I'm not writing, I tend to get depressed and a little bit surly. And then when I'm writing, suddenly I feel enlivened. Now the only thing as I'm g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/george-saunders-317_bits_when-i-m-not-writing-i-tend-to-get-depre_1634653.jpg" --- # When I'm not writing, I tend to get depressed and a little… ![“When I'm not writing, I tend to get depressed and a little bit surly. And then when I'm writing, suddenly I feel enlivened. Now the only thing as I'm getting older that I notice is that it's a pattern.” quote by George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/george-saunders-317_bits_when-i-m-not-writing-i-tend-to-get-depre_1634653.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/george-saunders-317_bits_when-i-m-not-writing-i-tend-to-get-depre_1634653.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8c/george-saunders-317_bits_when-i-m-not-writing-i-tend-to-get-depre_1634653.jpg) > “When I'm not writing, I tend to get depressed and a little bit surly. And then when I'm writing, suddenly I feel enlivened. Now the only thing as I'm getting older that I notice is that it's a pattern.” [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing provides emotional uplift and purpose, counteracting depression and irritability when absent. **In simple terms:** Writing lifts mood. Key Takeaway Write regularly for emotional health. Themes creativity mental health purpose Mood reflective inspirational Type personal motivational When to use this quote - journalism - personal essays - creative writing - therapy - daily routine Key Concepts flow self‑expression psychology Questions to Reflect On - What activities besides writing boost your mood? - How can you integrate writing into daily life? A Different Perspective Writing alone may not solve deeper issues; balance with other activities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bits/) [Feel Enlivened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-enlivened-514972/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Getting old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-old/) [Getting older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-older/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Suddenly Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suddenly-feel-467274/) [Surly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surly/) [Surly Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surly-writing-514975/) [Tend Depressed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tend-depressed-514974/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Suddenly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-suddenly-514973/) ## Related quotes > [I'm fairly unemotional and tend not to get too excited when things go well and I tend not to get too depressed when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-singh/i-m-fairly-unemotional-and-tend-not-to-get-too-excited-when-things-go/) [Simon Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-singh/) > [“To wake up and feel enlivened; to be in a hurry to get out of bed and into the day. 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I suddenly feel a new fragile sense of myself in this world and it's unbearable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/i-am-having-a-crisis-she-thought-i-suddenly-feel-a-new-fragile-sense/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [“And suddenly I feel weak, like every question in my head has collided against each other and won't let me think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/and-suddenly-i-feel-weak-like-every-question-in-my-head-has-collided/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“And suddenly, I feel like crying, but not in a bad way. More like in the way you feel when someone gives you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-albertalli/and-suddenly-i-feel-like-crying-but-not-in-a-bad-way-more-like-in-the/) [Becky Albertalli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-albertalli/) > [I just really am trying, trying, all the time. But I like to be scared. 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