--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Write as often as possible, not with the…" description: "\"Write as often as possible, not with the idea at once of getting into print, but as if you were learning an instrument.\" — J. B. Priestley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/j-b-priestley-9291_ideas_write-as-often-as-possible-not-with-the_1058152.png" --- # Write as often as possible, not with the idea at once of… ![“Write as often as possible, not with the idea at once of getting into print, but as if you were learning an instrument.” quote by J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/j-b-priestley-9291_ideas_write-as-often-as-possible-not-with-the_1058152.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/j-b-priestley-9291_ideas_write-as-often-as-possible-not-with-the_1058152.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/411/j-b-priestley-9291_ideas_write-as-often-as-possible-not-with-the_1058152.png) > “Write as often as possible, not with the idea at once of getting into print, but as if you were learning an instrument.” [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing regularly builds skill like practicing an instrument, focusing on growth over immediate publication. **In simple terms:** Practice writing like learning an instrument. Key Takeaway Write often, ignore pressure to publish. Themes discipline creativity skill development Mood motivational reflective Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - daily journaling - blog posts - novel drafts - writing workshops Key Concepts deliberate practice growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance practice with rest? - What habits keep writing enjoyable? A Different Perspective Consistent practice may still lead to burnout without rest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Learning Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-instrument-2569501/) [Possible Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-idea-1034845/) [Print](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/print/) [Print Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/print-learning-2569502/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-possible-2569500/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We may have revolved every possible idea in our minds, and yet the truth has never occurred to us, and it is from without,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/we-may-have-revolved-every-possible-idea-in-our-minds-and-yet-the/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [It didn't seem remotely possible. I had no idea how people got those jobs, I didn't know what the steps were, it never even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/it-didn-t-seem-remotely-possible-i-had-no-idea-how-people-got-those/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [I try to write as serious as possible, and then a joke slips in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/i-try-to-write-as-serious-as-possible-and-then-a-joke-slips-in/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [I'm not ritualistic about writing. I try to write as often as possible, which means that I have to be able to write in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-not-ritualistic-about-writing-i-try-to-write-as-often-as-possible/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I don't think it is possible to give tips for finding one's voice; it's one of those things for which there aren't really any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy-z-brite/i-don-t-think-it-is-possible-to-give-tips-for-finding-one-s-voice-it/) [Poppy Z. Brite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy-z-brite/) > [“Grown-ups everywhere are learning the instrument to relieve stress, focus their minds – and for the sheer joy it brings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/grown-ups-everywhere-are-learning-the-instrument-to-relieve-stress/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is like playing a violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/life-is-like-playing-a-violin-in-public-and-learning-the-instrument/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [I think when you're learning an instrument, you are restricted because much of it is the noise of individual theory and your ability to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blake/i-think-when-you-re-learning-an-instrument-you-are-restricted-because/) [James Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blake/) > [Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/life-is-like-playing-a-violin-solo-in-public-and-learning-the/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Learning an instrument isn't about becoming a star anymore than learning to swim means you want to become a haddock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-mason/learning-an-instrument-isn-t-about-becoming-a-star-anymore-than/) [Nick Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-mason/) > [My high school teacher, Reggie Andrews, was a huge factor in my learning my instrument. 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I don't care how horrendous or ridiculous I may appear in person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/there-is-nothing-about-myself-that-i-wouldn-t-reveal-or-write-about-i/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [Every woman I have ever loved has left her print upon me, where I loved some invaluable piece of myself apart from me-so different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audre-lorde/every-woman-i-have-ever-loved-has-left-her-print-upon-me-where-i/) [Audre Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audre-lorde/) > [I don't care if you make a print on a bath mat, just as long as it is a good print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-weston/i-don-t-care-if-you-make-a-print-on-a-bath-mat-just-as-long-as-it-is/) [Edward Weston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-weston/) ## More by J. B. Priestley > [In a world shaped and colored more and more by politicians, the nations meet politically, and hardly any other way to settle their differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/in-a-world-shaped-and-colored-more-and-more-by-politicians-the/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [Many a man is praised for his reserve and so-called shyness when he is simply too proud to risk making a fool of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/many-a-man-is-praised-for-his-reserve-and-so-called-shyness-when-he/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [To make the most of Christmas, focus on Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/to-make-the-most-of-christmas-focus-on-christ/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [A novelist who writes nothing for 10 years finds his reputation rising. 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Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [I fancy that the Hell of Too Many People would occupy a respectable place in the hierarchy of infernal regions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/i-fancy-that-the-hell-of-too-many-people-would-occupy-a-respectable/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [It is good fiction, so largely ignored now, that brings us so much closer to the real facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/it-is-good-fiction-so-largely-ignored-now-that-brings-us-so-much/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/i-have-always-been-delighted-at-the-prospect-of-a-new-day-a-fresh-try/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [Perhaps it would be better not to be a writer, but if you must, then write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/perhaps-it-would-be-better-not-to-be-a-writer-but-if-you-must-then/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [What a grand, higgledy-piggledy, sensible old place Norwich is!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/what-a-grand-higgledy-piggledy-sensible-old-place-norwich-is/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [Man, the creature who knows he must die, who has dreams larger than his destiny, who is forever working a confidence trick on himself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/man-the-creature-who-knows-he-must-die-who-has-dreams-larger-than-his/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [There are plenty of clever young writers. But there is too much genius, not enough talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/there-are-plenty-of-clever-young-writers-but-there-is-too-much-genius/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [If you are a genius, you'll make your own rules, but if not - and the odds are against it - go to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/if-you-are-a-genius-you-ll-make-your-own-rules-but-if-not-and-the/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) > [But some of us are beginning to pull well away, in our irritation, from...the exquisite tasters, the vintage snobs, the three-star Michelin gourmets. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-priestley/but-some-of-us-are-beginning-to-pull-well-away-in-our-irritation-from/) [J. B. Priestley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) [Explore all 73 J. B. Priestley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-priestley/) ## More Ideas quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. 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It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Write as often as possible, not with the idea at once of getting into print, but as if you were learning an instrument.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. B. 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