--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing a book is like torture that you…" description: "\"Writing a book is like torture that you don't know, but after it's done and there it is. It's a joy like unlike anything else, I think it's the closest..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/harry-crews-17383_baby_writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you_1363170.png" --- # Writing a book is like torture that you don't know, but… ![“Writing a book is like torture that you don't know, but after it's done and there it is. It's a joy like unlike anything else, I think it's the closest that a man can come to knowing what is feels like to have a baby.” quote by Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/harry-crews-17383_baby_writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you_1363170.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/harry-crews-17383_baby_writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you_1363170.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/harry-crews-17383_baby_writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you_1363170.png) > “Writing a book is like torture that you don't know, but after it's done and there it is. It's a joy like unlike anything else, I think it's the closest that a man can come to knowing what is feels like to have a baby.” [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is painful yet rewarding, akin to creating new life, delivering profound joy. **In simple terms:** Writing feels like giving birth to something new. Key Takeaway Accept the pain, cherish the result. Themes creation pain joy Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - short stories - personal essays Key Concepts authorial voice creative process Questions to Reflect On - What does the 'baby' metaphor reveal about your work? - How do you sustain joy after hardship? A Different Perspective The process can be isolating and exhausting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing a book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-a-book/) ## Related quotes > [Mind reading is fun, but I never want to learn it. Cause I never like to loose my beloved ones for knowing what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/my-mind/mind-reading-is-fun-but-i-never-want-to-learn-it-cause-i-never-like/) My Mind > [You won't know the meaning of success without knowing how it feels to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kazu-kibuishi/you-won-t-know-the-meaning-of-success-without-knowing-how-it-feels-to/) Kazu Kibuishi > [“I was on edge despite knowing you for what feels like forever and trusting you with everything else I had to offer that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-silvera/i-was-on-edge-despite-knowing-you-for-what-feels-like-forever-and/) [Adam Silvera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-silvera/) > [I've never been in love. I will die without knowing what it feels like to need to see one person's face when you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/i-ve-never-been-in-love-i-will-die-without-knowing-what-it-feels-like/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [In terms of being a kind of popular artist figure and knowing how isolating that is, and knowing what it feels like to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-cole-smith/in-terms-of-being-a-kind-of-popular-artist-figure-and-knowing-how/) [Zachary Cole Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-cole-smith/) > [Knowing what it feels like to be in pain is exactly why we try to be kind to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/knowing-what-it-feels-like-to-be-in-pain-is-exactly-why-we-try-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [By the end of the time I'm writing a book, I'm tearing my hair out and I want to go do stand-up. And then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/by-the-end-of-the-time-i-m-writing-a-book-i-m-tearing-my-hair-out-and/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [I always say that, for me, writing a book is like a wacky Greyhound bus trip - I know where I'm starting and where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-caletti/i-always-say-that-for-me-writing-a-book-is-like-a-wacky-greyhound-bus/) [Deb Caletti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-caletti/) > [I believe that everybody needs to tell their story - to be heard, to be seen, to be acknowledged, to be understood. We all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/i-believe-that-everybody-needs-to-tell-their-story-to-be-heard-to-be/) [Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/) > [Do you know what writing a book is? It's sitting alone in a room for weeks without making contact with another human. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/do-you-know-what-writing-a-book-is-it-s-sitting-alone-in-a-room-for/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [When I was in college, I used to write little ditties and short stories and poetry for my friends. Writing a book is another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/when-i-was-in-college-i-used-to-write-little-ditties-and-short/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [“Writing a book is a blood sport. If it doesn't hurt when you're done, you're probably doing something wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevis-hendrickson/writing-a-book-is-a-blood-sport-if-it-doesn-t-hurt-when-you-re-done/) [Kevis Hendrickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevis-hendrickson/) > [Writing a book is a brilliant thing because once you've finished it, you've done it, and there's the potential for it to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hodgkinson/writing-a-book-is-a-brilliant-thing-because-once-you-ve-finished-it/) [Tom Hodgkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hodgkinson/) > [These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/these-are-rules-i-ve-picked-up-along-the-way-to-help-me-remain/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Writing a book is an adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/writing-a-book-is-an-adventure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## More by Harry Crews > [Alcohol whipped me. Alcohol and I had many, many marvelous times together. We laughed, we talked, we danced at the party together; then one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/alcohol-whipped-me-alcohol-and-i-had-many-many-marvelous-times/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [I've never enjoyed myself. I'm incapable of enjoying myself. There's just some people who don't enjoy themselves very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/i-ve-never-enjoyed-myself-i-m-incapable-of-enjoying-myself-there-s/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [If you wait until you got time to write a novel, or time to write a story, or time to read the hundred thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/if-you-wait-until-you-got-time-to-write-a-novel-or-time-to-write-a/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [Teaching, real teaching, is - or ought to be - a messy business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/teaching-real-teaching-is-or-ought-to-be-a-messy-business/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [The writer's job is to get naked...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/the-writer-s-job-is-to-get-naked/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [Men to whom God is dead worship one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/men-to-whom-god-is-dead-worship-one-another/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [There ought to be a law against the sun rising and setting for you in somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/there-ought-to-be-a-law-against-the-sun-rising-and-setting-for-you-in/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [“If you love something/Set it free/If it loves you/It will come back to you/ If it doesn't--hunt it down and kill it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/if-you-love-something-set-it-free-if-it-loves-you-it-will-come-back/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [That was the only decision there was once upon a time: what to do with the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/that-was-the-only-decision-there-was-once-upon-a-time-what-to-do-with/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [“everybody he knew was going quietly mad from being tied on a leash that was too short.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/everybody-he-knew-was-going-quietly-mad-from-being-tied-on-a-leash/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [“Survival is truimph enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/survival-is-truimph-enough/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [“She felt the snake between her breasts, felt him there, and loved him there, coiled, the deep tumescent S held rigid, ready to strike.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/she-felt-the-snake-between-her-breasts-felt-him-there-and-loved-him/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [I am not perfect." It came out in a rush of breath. "See I thought I was. Thank God I ain't. See a perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/i-am-not-perfect-it-came-out-in-a-rush-of-breath-see-i-thought-i-was/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [Survival is triumph enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/survival-is-triumph-enough/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) > [Hell came right along with God, hand in hand. The stink of sulfur swirled in the air of the church, fire burned in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/hell-came-right-along-with-god-hand-in-hand-the-stink-of-sulfur/) [Harry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) [Explore all 36 Harry Crews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/) ## More Baby quotes > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [“I looked down into my baby’s beautiful green eyes and ached inside. She looked up at me with wide-eyed innocence. I kissed her warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-forrest/i-looked-down-into-my-baby-s-beautiful-green-eyes-and-ached-inside/) [Bella Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-forrest/) > [I've retired my sneakers for stilettos, baby!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivica-a-fox/i-ve-retired-my-sneakers-for-stilettos-baby/) [Vivica A. Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivica-a-fox/) > [I didn't expect to be so comfortable handing my child off to a nanny without getting any of her information. As soon as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-wong/i-didn-t-expect-to-be-so-comfortable-handing-my-child-off-to-a-nanny/) [Ali Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-wong/) > [And I gave you my all, now baby be mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/and-i-gave-you-my-all-now-baby-be-mine/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Parents who are stressed or disturbed will have more difficulty in meeting their children's needs. Parents who have little support--from friends, relatives, neighbors, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-kamerman/parents-who-are-stressed-or-disturbed-will-have-more-difficulty-in/) Sheila Kamerman > [Shhh.” He put a finger to her lips. “Hear me out. I cannot deny that I would've liked to have made babies with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/shhh-he-put-a-finger-to-her-lips-hear-me-out-i-cannot-deny-that-i/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [I'm so happy baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashanti/i-m-so-happy-baby/) [Ashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashanti/) > [Weezy F. Baby. F. is fo' finisha:)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/weezy-f-baby-f-is-fo-finisha/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [Baby, I love you. We argue about the stupidest shit then we turn around and laugh about it. I'm obsessed with you and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay/baby-i-love-you-we-argue-about-the-stupidest-shit-then-we-turn-around/) Lindsay > [My dad's Israeli. He was born in Baghdad to Iraqi Jews. Then, at age two, his parents wanted to move to their homeland and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-yamin/my-dad-s-israeli-he-was-born-in-baghdad-to-iraqi-jews-then-at-age-two/) [Elliott Yamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-yamin/) > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I always wondered why babies spend so much time sucking their thumbs. Then I tasted baby food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-orben/i-always-wondered-why-babies-spend-so-much-time-sucking-their-thumbs/) [Robert Orben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-orben/) > [If all fooles had babies, wee should want fuell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/if-all-fooles-had-babies-wee-should-want-fuell/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [My baby girl Bella is growing up so fast I remember when she was soo tiny, it shows how much she has been loved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal/my-baby-girl-bella-is-growing-up-so-fast-i-remember-when-she-was-soo/) [Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal/) [Browse all 5,822 Baby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baby/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing a book is like torture that you don't know, but after it's done and there it is. It's a joy like unlike anything else, I think it's the closest that a man can come to knowing what is feels like to have a baby.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Crews" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you-don-t-know-but-after-it-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Baby" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you-don-t-know-but-after-it-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/harry-crews-17383_baby_writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you_1363170.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/harry-crews-17383_baby_writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you_1363170.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c4/harry-crews-17383_baby_writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you_1363170.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Writing a book is like torture that you don't know, but after it's done and there it is. It's a joy like…” — Harry Crews", "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": "Harry Crews", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-crews/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Writing a book is like torture...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you-don-t-know-but-after-it-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-crews/writing-a-book-is-like-torture-that-you-don-t-know-but-after-it-s/#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 } } ] } ```