--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned by reading an awful lot and by…" description: "\"I learned by reading an awful lot and by writing a half a million words of stuff nobody would do anything with except wrap old fish.\" — Harry Turtledove" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/harry-turtledove-19723_awful_i-learned-by-reading-an-awful-lot-and-by_335134.jpg" --- # I learned by reading an awful lot and by writing a half a… ![“I learned by reading an awful lot and by writing a half a million words of stuff nobody would do anything with except wrap old fish.” quote by Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/harry-turtledove-19723_awful_i-learned-by-reading-an-awful-lot-and-by_335134.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/harry-turtledove-19723_awful_i-learned-by-reading-an-awful-lot-and-by_335134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/003/harry-turtledove-19723_awful_i-learned-by-reading-an-awful-lot-and-by_335134.jpg) > “I learned by reading an awful lot and by writing a half a million words of stuff nobody would do anything with except wrap old fish.” [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He attributes his prolific output to extensive reading and relentless writing, despite modest outcomes. **In simple terms:** Reading and writing lead to productivity. Key Takeaway Write constantly, learn widely. Themes creativity discipline learning Mood reflective motivational Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - author workshops - personal projects - skill development Key Concepts literary craft self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - What balance between quantity and quality? - How to avoid burnout? A Different Perspective Quantity may not guarantee quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful/) [Awful lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awful-lot/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Million Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-words-304072/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading Awful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-awful-3126705/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Wraps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wraps/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-half-2267303/) ## Related quotes > [TV writing - for me, at least - is half original voice and half an embodiment and a representation of the spirit of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-plec/tv-writing-for-me-at-least-is-half-original-voice-and-half-an/) [Julie Plec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-plec/) > [While writing 'Half of a Yellow Sun,' I enjoyed playing with minor things: inventing a train station in a town that has none, placing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/while-writing-half-of-a-yellow-sun-i-enjoyed-playing-with-minor/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [I wonder if I don't give too much of myself to writing: I am always half where I am; the other half is feeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-wonder-if-i-don-t-give-too-much-of-myself-to-writing-i-am-always/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I started writing it six and a half years ago, so the landscape has changed a lot in that time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/i-started-writing-it-six-and-a-half-years-ago-so-the-landscape-has/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [I get invited to an awful lot of Jewish functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/i-get-invited-to-an-awful-lot-of-jewish-functions/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [It struck her all at once that dealing with other human beings was an awful lot of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/it-struck-her-all-at-once-that-dealing-with-other-human-beings-was-an/) [Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/) > [But I did an awful lot of work in Hollywood, and in New York for that matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macnee/but-i-did-an-awful-lot-of-work-in-hollywood-and-in-new-york-for-that/) [Patrick Macnee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macnee/) > [For someone who doesn't even like love stories, I've played an awful lot of lovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shahrukh-khan/for-someone-who-doesn-t-even-like-love-stories-i-ve-played-an-awful/) [Shahrukh Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shahrukh-khan/) > [It takes an awful lot to offend me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-visage/it-takes-an-awful-lot-to-offend-me/) [Michelle Visage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-visage/) > [Hes the kind of boy who can listen to the million words you say and wont forget a single one you said <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-graham/hes-the-kind-of-boy-who-can-listen-to-the-million-words-you-say-and/) [Nathalie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-graham/) > [A million words wouldn't bring you back, I know because I tried. 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I mean that you're going to throw away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/i-think-it-takes-about-a-million-words-to-make-a-writer-i-mean-that/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) ## More by Harry Turtledove > [“People you don't like are pigheaded. Your friends are stubborn, or hold to their purpose.~Victor Radcliff”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/people-you-don-t-like-are-pigheaded-your-friends-are-stubborn-or-hold/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [Plausible development, building from what we know about what really did go on, and a whacking good story… Surrounded by Enemies delivers on both,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/plausible-development-building-from-what-we-know-about-what-really/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [“They were having a good time, an adventure. 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Kelly silently mouthed the word, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-turtledove/all-the-pools-are-going-batshit-like-you-wouldn-t-believe-batshit-it/) [Harry Turtledove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-turtledove/) > [You count snouts,” Straha said. “Whichever side can persuade most snouts to join it prevails. It does not have to be clever. 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