--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you want to be a writer-stop talking…" description: "\"If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit down and write!\" — Jackie Collins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jackie-collins-9686_action_if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking_2761213.jpg" --- # If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit… ![“If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit down and write!” quote by Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jackie-collins-9686_action_if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking_2761213.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jackie-collins-9686_action_if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking_2761213.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jackie-collins-9686_action_if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking_2761213.jpg) > “If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit down and write!” [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing requires action; ideas alone won’t become work without effort. **In simple terms:** Talk is cheap; write. Key Takeaway Begin writing immediately. Themes creativity discipline productivity Mood determined energetic Type motivational practical When to use this quote - starting a novel - blog post - daily journal - screenplay Key Concepts self‑efficacy habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What project have you delayed by over‑talking? - How can you turn ideas into drafts today? A Different Perspective Talk alone doesn’t improve skill; practice is essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Procrastination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/procrastination/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Writing is hard work. But if you want to become a writer you will become one. Nothing will stop you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/writing-is-hard-work-but-if-you-want-to-become-a-writer-you-will/) [Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/) > [If you really want to be a writer, nobody can stop you -- and if you don't, nobody can help you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alma-alexander/if-you-really-want-to-be-a-writer-nobody-can-stop-you-and-if-you-don/) [Alma Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alma-alexander/) > [If you want to be a writer, I have two pieces of advice. One is to be a reader. I think that's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-i-have-two-pieces-of-advice-one-is-to-be-a/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [I think you become a writer when you stop writing for yourself or your teachers and start thinking about readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi/i-think-you-become-a-writer-when-you-stop-writing-for-yourself-or/) [Avi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi/) > [The writer can't stop her unconscious from showing up, that's certain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-writer-can-t-stop-her-unconscious-from-showing-up-that-s-certain/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [My process is surprisingly straightforward. I find myself with little to do over a stretch of time and I say, "I should write children's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/my-process-is-surprisingly-straightforward-i-find-myself-with-little/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [I don't card out my screenplays ever. I just have an idea I just sit down and write I don't edit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nia-vardalos/i-don-t-card-out-my-screenplays-ever-i-just-have-an-idea-i-just-sit/) [Nia Vardalos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nia-vardalos/) > [The best tip for writing is just to write; to sit down and write, to begin doing it and not to be scared by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-almond/the-best-tip-for-writing-is-just-to-write-to-sit-down-and-write-to/) [David Almond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-almond/) > [“I want be a writer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/i-want-be-a-writer/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [If you want to be a serious writer, then you have to write what there is to write about. If you're going to pull…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-you-want-to-be-a-serious-writer-then-you-have-to-write-what-there/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“A Book I Can Put Down I’m halfway through and I’ve gotten used to the way it wants to be read. This writer wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonia-clark/a-book-i-can-put-down-i-m-halfway-through-and-i-ve-gotten-used-to-the/) Antonia Clark > [I've had so many experiences with film or musicals or books where I just walk away changed in some way. One of the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-kitt/i-ve-had-so-many-experiences-with-film-or-musicals-or-books-where-i/) [Tom Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-kitt/) > [It wasn't like I told my family, 'I want to be a singer. I want to be a writer. I want to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisie-peters/it-wasn-t-like-i-told-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-singer-i-want-to-be-a/) [Maisie Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisie-peters/) > [I used to want to be a war photographer, and I used to want to be a ballerina and a comedian. I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-power/i-used-to-want-to-be-a-war-photographer-and-i-used-to-want-to-be-a/) [Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-power/) > [I want to keep growing as a writer. I find myself doing unexpected projects and sort of challenging my idea of where I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/i-want-to-keep-growing-as-a-writer-i-find-myself-doing-unexpected/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) ## More by Jackie Collins > [If you wrote a page a day, at the end of the year you would have a book. Whether it's any good or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/if-you-wrote-a-page-a-day-at-the-end-of-the-year-you-would-have-a/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [As soon as I reach my destination I have a cup of tea, something to eat and then sleep for about 13 hours. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/as-soon-as-i-reach-my-destination-i-have-a-cup-of-tea-something-to/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [I wake up in the morning and I still have a passion for what I do, and I'll be doing it when I'm 105,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/i-wake-up-in-the-morning-and-i-still-have-a-passion-for-what-i-do-and/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [For a perfect holiday I need my iPhone and my writing tools. I write all my books by hand so black felt pens and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/for-a-perfect-holiday-i-need-my-iphone-and-my-writing-tools-i-write/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [My philosophy is, unless you're sick and need help, why bother?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/my-philosophy-is-unless-you-re-sick-and-need-help-why-bother/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [The biggest critics of my books are people who never read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/the-biggest-critics-of-my-books-are-people-who-never-read-them/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [“Expecting conceit they found courtesy. Expecting arrogance they found a man concerned with people’s thoughts and feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/expecting-conceit-they-found-courtesy-expecting-arrogance-they-found/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [“Falling in love is like getting hit by a truck and yet not being mortally wounded. just sick to your stomach, high one minute,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/falling-in-love-is-like-getting-hit-by-a-truck-and-yet-not-being/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [Whatever you have a passion for, then you must do. If you want to write, write about something you know about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/whatever-you-have-a-passion-for-then-you-must-do-if-you-want-to-write/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [I don't like being in one place too long. Five days just about does it for me because I have a very low threshold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/i-don-t-like-being-in-one-place-too-long-five-days-just-about-does-it/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [I woke up last night and thought: 'I must call somebody in my next novel Casablanca.' It's such a great name. I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/i-woke-up-last-night-and-thought-i-must-call-somebody-in-my-next/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [All of my books have the potential to become movies, it's just a question of finding a studio who wants to get behind me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/all-of-my-books-have-the-potential-to-become-movies-it-s-just-a/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [I like to design my clothes; I design my jewelry, yeah. It's fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/i-like-to-design-my-clothes-i-design-my-jewelry-yeah-it-s-fun/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [Who is ready to settle for five minutes when three hours does nicely?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/who-is-ready-to-settle-for-five-minutes-when-three-hours-does-nicely/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) > [I'm a storyteller, I'm not a literary writer, and I don't want to be a literary writer. People say to me, "Oh, when are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/i-m-a-storyteller-i-m-not-a-literary-writer-and-i-don-t-want-to-be-a/) [Jackie Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) [Explore all 70 Jackie Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [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/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit down and write!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jackie Collins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking-about-it-and-sit-down-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking-about-it-and-sit-down-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jackie-collins-9686_action_if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking_2761213.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jackie-collins-9686_action_if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking_2761213.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85e/jackie-collins-9686_action_if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking_2761213.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you want to be a writer-stop talking about it and sit down and write!” — Jackie Collins", "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": "Jackie Collins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-collins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you want to be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking-about-it-and-sit-down-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-collins/if-you-want-to-be-a-writer-stop-talking-about-it-and-sit-down-and/#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 } } ] } ```