--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you write for a living and you can't…" description: "\"When you write for a living and you can't do anything else, you know that sooner or later that the deadline is going to come screaming down on you like..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/hunter-s-thompson-278_avoiding_when-you-write-for-a-living-and-you-can_2166753.jpg" --- # When you write for a living and you can't do anything… ![“When you write for a living and you can't do anything else, you know that sooner or later that the deadline is going to come screaming down on you like a goddamn banshee. There's no avoiding it...So one day you just don't appear at the El Adobe bar anymore; you shut the door, paint the windows…” quote by Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/hunter-s-thompson-278_avoiding_when-you-write-for-a-living-and-you-can_2166753.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/hunter-s-thompson-278_avoiding_when-you-write-for-a-living-and-you-can_2166753.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eca/hunter-s-thompson-278_avoiding_when-you-write-for-a-living-and-you-can_2166753.jpg) > “When you write for a living and you can't do anything else, you know that sooner or later that the deadline is going to come screaming down on you like a goddamn banshee. There's no avoiding it...So one day you just don't appear at the El Adobe bar anymore; you shut the door, paint the windows black, rent an electric typewriter and become the monster you always were - the writer.” [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work can become a consuming obsession, turning the creator into a self‑destructive figure. **In simple terms:** Writing can become an all‑consuming, self‑destructive force. Key Takeaway Set boundaries to protect yourself. Themes creativity obsession self‑destruction Mood cautionary intense Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - freelance writing - deadline pressure - night‑long projects - creative retreats Key Concepts artistic burnout identity crisis Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain health while pursuing art? - What signs indicate you’re losing control? A Different Perspective Not all creators become monsters; many find balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) [Banshees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/banshees/) [Bars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bars/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Deadline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deadline/) [Deadline Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deadline-going-4621787/) [Doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doors/) [Electric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Later Deadline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/later-deadline-4621788/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Monster Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monster-writer-3882847/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [One day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-day/) [Paint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paint/) [Sooner or later](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sooner-or-later/) [Typewriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriters/) [Window](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/window/) [Write Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-living-877152/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“you shut the door, paint the windows black, rent an electric typewriter and become the monster you always were—the writer. I’d warned them about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/playboy/you-shut-the-door-paint-the-windows-black-rent-an-electric-typewriter/) [Playboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/playboy/) > [Joseph Mattson is a monster of a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-lisick/joseph-mattson-is-a-monster-of-a-writer/) [Beth Lisick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-lisick/) > [“During the act of making something, I experience a kind of blissful absence of the self and a loss of time. When I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/during-the-act-of-making-something-i-experience-a-kind-of-blissful/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [“Before I continue, I just want to write about living every day like your last one. I don’t agree with it at all. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cave-man/before-i-continue-i-just-want-to-write-about-living-every-day-like/) [Cave Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cave-man/) > [I'm a writer. I write not only for a living, I write because I'm a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-jennings/i-m-a-writer-i-write-not-only-for-a-living-i-write-because-i-m-a/) [Gary Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-jennings/) > [There's a difference between writing for a living and writing for life. If you write for a living, you make enormous compromises… If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-s-a-difference-between-writing-for-a-living-and-writing-for/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [I had my jazz club and I had enough money. So I didn't have to write for my living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/i-had-my-jazz-club-and-i-had-enough-money-so-i-didn-t-have-to-write/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I write about living, not dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-diamond/i-write-about-living-not-dying/) [John Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-diamond/) > [If you're going to write for a living, you should find something fun to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/if-you-re-going-to-write-for-a-living-you-should-find-something-fun/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [“I didn't always write for a living, and even back when it was my most fondly held dream to one day be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/i-didn-t-always-write-for-a-living-and-even-back-when-it-was-my-most/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [I do choose to write for a living - in addition to writing plays. I no longer write sitcoms, and I no longer feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loomer/i-do-choose-to-write-for-a-living-in-addition-to-writing-plays-i-no/) [Lisa Loomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loomer/) > [Who casts to write a living line, must sweat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/who-casts-to-write-a-living-line-must-sweat/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [While we were promoting 'Wide Open Spaces,' we set aside time to write. We went on several writing retreats where nobody could get hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martie-maguire/while-we-were-promoting-wide-open-spaces-we-set-aside-time-to-write/) [Martie Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martie-maguire/) > [I don't write for a living. I live to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-write-for-a-living-i-live-to-write/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just wanna write about what I am living as a citizen. That's all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jain/i-just-wanna-write-about-what-i-am-living-as-a-citizen-that-s-all/) [Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jain/) ## More by Hunter S. Thompson > [“There was also the fact that sending a penniless writer to get $135 worth of beer was — as Khrushchev said of Nixon —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-was-also-the-fact-that-sending-a-penniless-writer-to-get-135/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“Cases of champagne and scotch lay broken in the street, and everyone I saw had a bottle. They were screaming and dancing, and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/cases-of-champagne-and-scotch-lay-broken-in-the-street-and-everyone-i/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No music + Bad TV = Bad mood & no pages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-music-bad-tv-bad-mood-no-pages/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [By disgracing and degrading the presidency of the United States, by fleeing the White House like a diseased cur, Richard Nixon broke the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/by-disgracing-and-degrading-the-presidency-of-the-united-states-by/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [No one holds command over me. No man. No god. No Prince. What is a claim of age for ones who are immortal? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-one-holds-command-over-me-no-man-no-god-no-prince-what-is-a-claim/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb grey hairs”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/the-person-who-doesn-t-scatter-the-morning-dew-will-not-comb-grey/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Hope rises and dreams flicker and die. Love plans for tomorrow and loneliness thinks of yesterday. Life is beautiful and living is pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/hope-rises-and-dreams-flicker-and-die-love-plans-for-tomorrow-and/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [At age 22 I set what I insist is an all-time record for distance hitchhiking in Bermuda shorts: 3,700 miles in three weeks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/at-age-22-i-set-what-i-insist-is-an-all-time-record-for-distance/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [Paranoia is just another mask for ignorance. The truth, when you finally chase it down is almost always far worse than your darkest visions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/paranoia-is-just-another-mask-for-ignorance-the-truth-when-you/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“No doubt they all Got What Was Coming To Them. All those pathetically eager acid freaks who thought they could buy Peace and Understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/no-doubt-they-all-got-what-was-coming-to-them-all-those-pathetically/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [He wandered into the Newsroom and asked for a job the same way he’d walk into a barbershop and ask for a haircut, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/he-wandered-into-the-newsroom-and-asked-for-a-job-the-same-way-he-d/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There's no point in getting into politics at all unless you plan to lash things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-no-point-in-getting-into-politics-at-all-unless-you-plan-to/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [There’s a lot of things wrong with this country, but one of the few things still right with it is that a man can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/there-s-a-lot-of-things-wrong-with-this-country-but-one-of-the-few/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) [Explore all 765 Hunter S. Thompson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) ## More Avoiding quotes > [Because after you've crossed some lines, you just keep crossing them. And there's no escaping from constant escape. Distracting ourselves. Avoiding confrontation. Getting past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/because-after-you-ve-crossed-some-lines-you-just-keep-crossing-them/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/) [Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/) > [ I can hardly believe what these 12 caricatures \[about Prophet Muhammad\] have caused in the world. We Danes feel like we have been placed… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anders-fogh-rasmussen/i-can-hardly-believe-what-these-12-caricatures-about-prophet-muhammad/) [Anders Fogh Rasmussen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anders-fogh-rasmussen/) > [I know a bit about taxation and the remarkable effort that goes in to avoiding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-rinder/i-know-a-bit-about-taxation-and-the-remarkable-effort-that-goes-in-to/) [Robert Rinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-rinder/) > [When you are in hard labor, remember that the length of labor is usually proportional to the number of people around. Avoid the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-odent/when-you-are-in-hard-labor-remember-that-the-length-of-labor-is/) [Michel Odent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-odent/) > [I don't believe in happy endings. Children have got to face death sooner or later. Granny and Grandpa die, dogs die, cats die, gerbils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-briggs/i-don-t-believe-in-happy-endings-children-have-got-to-face-death/) [Raymond Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-briggs/) > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [Reading is sometimes an ingenious device for avoiding thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/reading-is-sometimes-an-ingenious-device-for-avoiding-thought/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [A day can really slip by when you're deliberately avoiding what you're supposed to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/a-day-can-really-slip-by-when-you-re-deliberately-avoiding-what-you/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [When someone starts Ignoring you, just back off without staying there with them Just to know the reason for avoiding..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishak/when-someone-starts-ignoring-you-just-back-off-without-staying-there/) [Vishak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishak/) > [You know what takes effort? Being kind, being patient, being respectful, telling someone how you feel politely instead of just avoiding them for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/you-know-what-takes-effort-being-kind-being-patient-being-respectful/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [It's all about being flexible, and avoiding choices whenever possible. Choices suck, they are inherently limiting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-armstrong/it-s-all-about-being-flexible-and-avoiding-choices-whenever-possible/) [Craig Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-armstrong/) > [In my personal life I'm very conservative. I've been married to the same person for nearly 50 years, I'm scrupulous about paying bills, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-walken/in-my-personal-life-i-m-very-conservative-i-ve-been-married-to-the/) [Christopher Walken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-walken/) [Browse all 713 Avoiding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you write for a living and you can't do anything else, you know that sooner or later that the deadline is going to come screaming down on you like a goddamn banshee. There's no avoiding it...So one day you just don't appear at the El Adobe bar anymore; you shut the door, paint the windows black, rent an electric typewriter and become the monster you always were - the writer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hunter S. 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