--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As an observer, I'm analysing my…" description: "\"As an observer, I'm analysing my reactions, I guess, and my thinking; but about the process of writing... I am not very talented at talking about what ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/janet-malcolm-10933_i-am_as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reaction_2089021.png" --- # As an observer, I'm analysing my reactions, I guess, and… ![“As an observer, I'm analysing my reactions, I guess, and my thinking; but about the process of writing... I am not very talented at talking about what I do as a writer.” quote by Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/janet-malcolm-10933_i-am_as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reaction_2089021.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/janet-malcolm-10933_i-am_as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reaction_2089021.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/janet-malcolm-10933_i-am_as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reaction_2089021.png) > “As an observer, I'm analysing my reactions, I guess, and my thinking; but about the process of writing... I am not very talented at talking about what I do as a writer.” [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑analysis of creative process reveals gaps between skill and self‑perception, highlighting the difficulty of articulating artistic practice. **In simple terms:** Writers often struggle to describe their craft. Key Takeaway Recognize and accept the limits of self‑explanation. Themes self‑awareness creativity communication Mood introspective thoughtful Type reflective analytical When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative journaling - peer feedback - teaching writing Key Concepts metacognition artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - How can you better articulate your creative process? - What benefits arise from describing your work to others? A Different Perspective Self‑analysis may not improve actual writing ability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Observer Analysing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observer-analysing-4120165/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Process Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process-writing/) [Talking Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-writer-4120164/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Talented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-talented-3908626/) ## Related quotes > [ “Though they have things in common, good writing and talented writing are not the same. \[…\] If you start with a confused, unclear, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/though-they-have-things-in-common-good-writing-and-talented-writing/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [I write every day. I'm always in the process of writing my last book, until the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farley-mowat/i-write-every-day-i-m-always-in-the-process-of-writing-my-last-book/) [Farley Mowat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farley-mowat/) > [It's sort of one ongoing process where writing ends and directing starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/it-s-sort-of-one-ongoing-process-where-writing-ends-and-directing/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [I've written a lot of books now; I've been published for over 30 years. I hope with every book I learn something new, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-ve-written-a-lot-of-books-now-i-ve-been-published-for-over-30-years/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [My favorite process is writing, from day one. The songs I have written throughout the years were a real great opportunity for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/my-favorite-process-is-writing-from-day-one-the-songs-i-have-written/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [In a way I do hate the process of writing. It's like learning a role where you never think you're going to be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/in-a-way-i-do-hate-the-process-of-writing-it-s-like-learning-a-role/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [The process of writing a book is infinitely more important than the book that is completed as a result of the writing, let alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-isaac-rubin/the-process-of-writing-a-book-is-infinitely-more-important-than-the/) [Theodore Isaac Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-isaac-rubin/) > [The process of writing has something infinite about it. Even though it is interrupted each night, it is one single notation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-canetti/the-process-of-writing-has-something-infinite-about-it-even-though-it/) [Elias Canetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-canetti/) > [Thank God for being a writer, because you do sort of find out what you think by the process of writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-davidson/thank-god-for-being-a-writer-because-you-do-sort-of-find-out-what-you/) [Robyn Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-davidson/) > [“The process of writing can be magical — there times when you step out of an upper-floor window and you just walk across thin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-process-of-writing-can-be-magical-there-times-when-you-step-out/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I don't enjoy any of the process of writing. I enjoy it when it goes on if it zings and it has great warmth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-don-t-enjoy-any-of-the-process-of-writing-i-enjoy-it-when-it-goes/) [Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/) > [The process of writing a poem represents work done on the self of the poet, in order to make form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-rukeyser/the-process-of-writing-a-poem-represents-work-done-on-the-self-of-the/) [Muriel Rukeyser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-rukeyser/) > [In playwriting, you've got to be able to write dialogue. And if you write enough of it and let it flow enough, you'll probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/in-playwriting-you-ve-got-to-be-able-to-write-dialogue-and-if-you/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [I still enjoy the process of writing. If I ever feel like I am going through the motions because I can sell anything at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/i-still-enjoy-the-process-of-writing-if-i-ever-feel-like-i-am-going/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [The process of writing is a process of learning; and much has become clearer to me in the attempt to transform my original rough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-baran/the-process-of-writing-is-a-process-of-learning-and-much-has-become/) [Paul A. Baran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-a-baran/) ## More by Janet Malcolm > [The camera is simply not the supple and powerful instrument of description that the pen is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-camera-is-simply-not-the-supple-and-powerful-instrument-of/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [“The writer ultimately tires of the subject's self-serving story, and substitutes a story of his own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-writer-ultimately-tires-of-the-subject-s-self-serving-story-and/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [Society mediates between the extremes of, on the one hand, intolerably strict morality and, on the other, dangerously anarchic permissiveness through an unspoken agreement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/society-mediates-between-the-extremes-of-on-the-one-hand-intolerably/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [Something seems to happen to people when they meet a journalist, and what happens is exactly the opposite of what one would expect. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/something-seems-to-happen-to-people-when-they-meet-a-journalist-and/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [The ‘I’ character in journalism is almost pure invention. Unlike the ‘I’ of autobiography, who is meant to be seen as a representation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-i-character-in-journalism-is-almost-pure-invention-unlike-the-i/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [I don't want to manipulate actuality; I want to record it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/i-don-t-want-to-manipulate-actuality-i-want-to-record-it/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [The journalistic 'I' is an overreliable narrator, a functionary to whom crucial tasks of narration and argument and tone have been entrusted, an ad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-journalistic-i-is-an-overreliable-narrator-a-functionary-to-whom/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [“The subject of a piece of writing has not suffered the tension and anxiety endured by the subject of the "Eichmann experiment" (as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-subject-of-a-piece-of-writing-has-not-suffered-the-tension-and/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [People talk in ungrammatical, unwriterly ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/people-talk-in-ungrammatical-unwriterly-ways/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [This is what it is the business of the artist to do. Art is theft, art is armed robbery, art is not pleasing your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/this-is-what-it-is-the-business-of-the-artist-to-do-art-is-theft-art/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [The journalist confines himself to the clean, gentlemanly work of exposing the griefs and shames of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-journalist-confines-himself-to-the-clean-gentlemanly-work-of/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [The dominant and most deep-dyed trait of the journalist is his timorousness. Where the novelist fearlessly plunges into the water of self-exposure, the journalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-dominant-and-most-deep-dyed-trait-of-the-journalist-is-his/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [If I write a page a day, I feel very good about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/if-i-write-a-page-a-day-i-feel-very-good-about-it/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [“Something seems to happen to people when they meet a journalist, and what happens is exactly the opposite of what one would expect. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/something-seems-to-happen-to-people-when-they-meet-a-journalist-and-2/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [You could say that any book that takes a position is not fair, unless you keep saying, 'On the one hand, on the other...'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/you-could-say-that-any-book-that-takes-a-position-is-not-fair-unless/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) [Explore all 62 Janet Malcolm quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) ## More I am quotes > [If I am going to be phased out by whatever powers, then I want people to know that it is not because I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/if-i-am-going-to-be-phased-out-by-whatever-powers-then-i-want-people/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [It is only because of the love of masses that I am campaigning for the SP.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaya-prada/it-is-only-because-of-the-love-of-masses-that-i-am-campaigning-for/) [Jaya Prada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaya-prada/) > [I am absolutely my own biggest critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lando-norris/i-am-absolutely-my-own-biggest-critic/) [Lando Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lando-norris/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [Yes, I am happy that my work is recognised, and it is wonderful to be acknowledged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/yes-i-am-happy-that-my-work-is-recognised-and-it-is-wonderful-to-be/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Any incarnation of 'Batman' I am delighted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/any-incarnation-of-batman-i-am-delighted-to-do/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I am a horrible visual artist. I can't fix a car, sew, knit, cook, etc. Statistically, there is more I don't do than do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-am-a-horrible-visual-artist-i-can-t-fix-a-car-sew-knit-cook-etc/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [I am a fighter and I am in that fight and I have to make sure that I share the responsibility with my players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-ten-hag/i-am-a-fighter-and-i-am-in-that-fight-and-i-have-to-make-sure-that-i/) [Erik ten Hag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-ten-hag/) [Browse all 22,613 I am quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As an observer, I'm analysing my reactions, I guess, and my thinking; but about the process of writing... I am not very talented at talking about what I do as a writer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Janet Malcolm" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reactions-i-guess-and-my-thinking-but/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "I am" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reactions-i-guess-and-my-thinking-but/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/janet-malcolm-10933_i-am_as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reaction_2089021.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/janet-malcolm-10933_i-am_as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reaction_2089021.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/671/janet-malcolm-10933_i-am_as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reaction_2089021.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As an observer, I'm analysing my reactions, I guess, and my thinking; but about the process of writing... I…” — Janet Malcolm", "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": "Janet Malcolm", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As an observer, I'm analysing my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reactions-i-guess-and-my-thinking-but/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/as-an-observer-i-m-analysing-my-reactions-i-guess-and-my-thinking-but/#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 } } ] } ```