--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be ruthless about protecting writing…" description: "\"Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have \"essential\" and \"long overdue\" meetings on those days.\" — J..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/j-k-rowling-2-683_caves_be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-day_2407977.jpg" --- # Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not… ![“Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have "essential" and "long overdue" meetings on those days.” quote by J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/j-k-rowling-2-683_caves_be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-day_2407977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/j-k-rowling-2-683_caves_be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-day_2407977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/j-k-rowling-2-683_caves_be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-day_2407977.jpg) > “Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have "essential" and "long overdue" meetings on those days.” [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Protecting dedicated writing time requires firm boundaries and refusing non‑essential meetings that erode focus and productivity. **In simple terms:** Guard your writing days by saying no to unnecessary meetings. Key Takeaway Set clear calendar blocks for creative work. Themes productivity boundaries time management creativity focus Mood determined pragmatic Type guidance strategic When to use this quote - writing retreats - office hours - project planning Key Concepts workflow discipline negotiation Questions to Reflect On - How can you negotiate protected time with a team? - What strategies keep you accountable? A Different Perspective May conflict with workplace expectations or collaborative needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caves/) [Endless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endless/) [Endless Requests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endless-requests-6053181/) [Essentials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essentials/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings/) [Meetings Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meetings-days-4420322/) [Mushrooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mushrooms/) [Overdue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overdue/) [Overdue Meetings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overdue-meetings-6053180/) [Protecting Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protecting-writing-390453/) [Request](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/request/) [Ruthless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruthless/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-days-390454/) ## Related quotes > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days…althoug h writing has been my actual job for several years now, I still seem to have to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days-althoug-h-writing-has-been/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have "essential" and "long overdue" meetings on those days.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days-i-e-do-not-cave-in-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This consists of a series of meetings that may last several days through which information is provided that may include reviewing documentaries, news programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/this-consists-of-a-series-of-meetings-that-may-last-several-days/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [Some people do not seem to grasp that I still have to sit down in peace and write the books, apparently believing that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/some-people-do-not-seem-to-grasp-that-i-still-have-to-sit-down-in/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I would rise, monk-like, at 6 A.M., speak to no one, make tea, and go immediately to my desk from which I didn't move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/i-would-rise-monk-like-at-6-a-m-speak-to-no-one-make-tea-and-go/) [Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/) > [Tomorrow may be hell, but today was a good writing day, and on the good writing days nothing else matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/tomorrow-may-be-hell-but-today-was-a-good-writing-day-and-on-the-good/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I've tried writing. Two days later I'd go visit it and say, Jesus Christ, who wrote this crap?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/i-ve-tried-writing-two-days-later-i-d-go-visit-it-and-say-jesus/) [Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/) > [There are days when I should be writing, and I am so tired that I can't. And the fatigue also affects my emotions, making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-griffith/there-are-days-when-i-should-be-writing-and-i-am-so-tired-that-i-can/) [Nicola Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-griffith/) > [The hardest bits of my book to read were the easiest bits to write because they were the most immediate. Probably because I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-barr/the-hardest-bits-of-my-book-to-read-were-the-easiest-bits-to-write/) [Damian Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-barr/) > [I'm always amazed by writers who tell me they plan everything at the beginning. I feel their writing days must be very bland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/i-m-always-amazed-by-writers-who-tell-me-they-plan-everything-at-the/) [Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/) > [Iranians embraced my approach to domestic and international affairs because they saw it as long overdue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hassan-rouhani/iranians-embraced-my-approach-to-domestic-and-international-affairs/) [Hassan Rouhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hassan-rouhani/) > [The external reality and inner dynamic of happenings in Northern Ireland between 1968 and 1974 were symptomatic of change, violent change admittedly, but change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/the-external-reality-and-inner-dynamic-of-happenings-in-northern/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [Héctor Tobar's accomplished first novel affords a perspective that is overdue and urgently needed in North American literature- -an insider's vision of L.A. as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-dybek/h-ctor-tobar-s-accomplished-first-novel-affords-a-perspective-that-is/) [Stuart Dybek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-dybek/) > [“Watch out for those overdue fines… Oh I think I can afford them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/watch-out-for-those-overdue-fines-oh-i-think-i-can-afford-them/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) ## More by J. K. Rowling > [I don't think about who the audience is for my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-about-who-the-audience-is-for-my-books/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [... there are far, far worse things in the living world than dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/there-are-far-far-worse-things-in-the-living-world-than-dying/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Be ruthless about protecting writing days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [“I'll join you when Hell freezes over," said Neville. "Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-ll-join-you-when-hell-freezes-over-said-neville-dumbledore-s-army/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I just hate meetings. Though it's true that once you've made a lot of money, people around you might be full of ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-just-hate-meetings-though-it-s-true-that-once-you-ve-made-a-lot-of/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [What's the worst that could happen? Everyone turned me down; big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/what-s-the-worst-that-could-happen-everyone-turned-me-down-big-deal/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the fates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/talent-and-intelligence-never-yet-inoculated-anyone-against-the/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I don't think there's any harm at all in allowing a kid to fantasize. In fact, I think to stop people from fantasizing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-harm-at-all-in-allowing-a-kid-to-fantasize/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I don't think I am evangelical in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-i-am-evangelical-in-my-work/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/the-mind-is-not-a-book-to-be-opened-at-will-and-examined-at-leisure/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [You'll stay with me?' Until the very end,' said James.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/you-ll-stay-with-me-until-the-very-end-said-james/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'm not anti-middle-class in the slightest. Look at me! I am very pro people putting time and money and effort into trying to improve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-anti-middle-class-in-the-slightest-look-at-me-i-am-very-pro/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'd always said never say never, because I knew that Warner Brothers wanted to do something with "Fantastic Beasts," and I did have kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-d-always-said-never-say-never-because-i-knew-that-warner-brothers/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [I'm not putting them on,” said old Archie in indignation. “I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-m-not-putting-them-on-said-old-archie-in-indignation-i-like-a/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [As he followed Bill back to the others a wry though came to him, born no doubt of the wine he had drunk. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/as-he-followed-bill-back-to-the-others-a-wry-though-came-to-him-born/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) [Explore all 402 J. K. Rowling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) ## More Caves quotes > [When man of slender visits you / Nothing on earth that one can do / In well he’ll hide, or watery hole / And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-goldstein/when-man-of-slender-visits-you-nothing-on-earth-that-one-can-do-in/) [Jack Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-goldstein/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [A man in a cave or in a camp, a nomad, will die with no more estate than the wolf or the horse leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-in-a-cave-or-in-a-camp-a-nomad-will-die-with-no-more-estate/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [(At the back of the cave, Phoebe placed her hand against one of the stones where a spring release opened an elevator door. Chris…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/at-the-back-of-the-cave-phoebe-placed-her-hand-against-one-of-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [There were doors that looked like large keyholes, others that resembled the entrances to caves, there were golden doors, some were padded and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/there-were-doors-that-looked-like-large-keyholes-others-that/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Many of us didn't believe in the image of bin Laden as a wandering Old Man of the Mountains, living on plants and insects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/many-of-us-didn-t-believe-in-the-image-of-bin-laden-as-a-wandering/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [You know,” he said, “I wish you could see this cave.” “What’s it like?” He paused. “It’s...beautiful, really.” “Tell me.” And so Po described…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/you-know-he-said-i-wish-you-could-see-this-cave-what-s-it-like-he/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [Do you know, I always imagine that the subway trains are dragons,' Rose said to Bear as they clung to his coat for support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-doman/do-you-know-i-always-imagine-that-the-subway-trains-are-dragons-rose/) [Regina Doman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-doman/) > [Imagine an American Hans Christian Andersen, conceive of the Brothers Grimm living in Missouri, and you will approximate Howard Schwartz, a fable-maker and fable-gatherer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-ozick/imagine-an-american-hans-christian-andersen-conceive-of-the-brothers/) [Cynthia Ozick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-ozick/) > [There is no civilization that did not begin with art, Whether it was drawing a line in the sand, painting a cave or dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-is-no-civilization-that-did-not-begin-with-art-whether-it-was/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Some are nice and some aren't. Some are smart, and others are about as bright as a wet match in a dark cave. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/some-are-nice-and-some-aren-t-some-are-smart-and-others-are-about-as/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Endure, put up with whatever comes your way, learn to overcome weakness and pain, push yourself to breaking point but never cave in. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-nadal/endure-put-up-with-whatever-comes-your-way-learn-to-overcome-weakness/) [Toni Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-nadal/) > [I'm Andrea Thompson, and unless you've been living in a cave, you probably already know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-thompson/i-m-andrea-thompson-and-unless-you-ve-been-living-in-a-cave-you/) [Andrea Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-thompson/) > [There are lifetimes where one goes off into the Himalayas and meditate in a cave. But this is not really one of those lifetimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-lifetimes-where-one-goes-off-into-the-himalayas-and/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [As her sons have seen her: the mother in patriarchy: controlling, erotic, castrating, heart-suffering, guilt-ridden, and guilt-provoking; a marble brow, a huge breast, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/as-her-sons-have-seen-her-the-mother-in-patriarchy-controlling-erotic/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) [Browse all 558 Caves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caves/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have \"essential\" and \"long overdue\" meetings on those days.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. K. Rowling" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days-i-e-do-not-cave-in-to-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Caves" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days-i-e-do-not-cave-in-to-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/j-k-rowling-2-683_caves_be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-day_2407977.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/j-k-rowling-2-683_caves_be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-day_2407977.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/j-k-rowling-2-683_caves_be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-day_2407977.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Be ruthless about protecting writing days, i.e., do not cave in to endless requests to have \"essential\" and…” — J. K. Rowling", "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": "J. K. Rowling", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Be ruthless about protecting writing days,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days-i-e-do-not-cave-in-to-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/be-ruthless-about-protecting-writing-days-i-e-do-not-cave-in-to-2/#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 } } ] } ```