--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I probably would have gone the M.F.A…" description: "\"I probably would have gone the M.F.A. route except I was a dad at 19, and it made more sense to go to work for a newspaper and support a kid that way. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/jess-walter-2228_became_i-probably-would-have-gone-the-m-f-a-rou_1658063.jpg" --- # I probably would have gone the M.F.A. route except I was a… ![“I probably would have gone the M.F.A. route except I was a dad at 19, and it made more sense to go to work for a newspaper and support a kid that way. But the funny thing is, that detour became the most important step in my developing as a novelist.” quote by Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/jess-walter-2228_became_i-probably-would-have-gone-the-m-f-a-rou_1658063.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/jess-walter-2228_became_i-probably-would-have-gone-the-m-f-a-rou_1658063.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a9f/jess-walter-2228_became_i-probably-would-have-gone-the-m-f-a-rou_1658063.jpg) > “I probably would have gone the M.F.A. route except I was a dad at 19, and it made more sense to go to work for a newspaper and support a kid that way. But the funny thing is, that detour became the most important step in my developing as a novelist.” [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected life events can redirect career paths, leading to valuable experiences that enrich creative work. **In simple terms:** Life detours can become creative catalysts. Key Takeaway Leverage unexpected experiences for growth. Themes career path creativity life choices Mood thoughtful inspirational Type career personal development When to use this quote - writing a novel - career counseling - parenting while working - career pivots Key Concepts novel writing career development Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected event shaped your career? - How can setbacks become strengths? A Different Perspective Risk of missing formal training opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Novelist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novelist/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [“Dead-end roads don't mean you've come to your end, just means you need to take a different detour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/dead-end-roads-don-t-mean-you-ve-come-to-your-end-just-means-you-need/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [I'm also interested in something that can happen later in life. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-driver-asked-me-if-i-would-mind-another-brief-detour-this-time-to/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [There are no choices that are really a detour that will take you far from where you're wanting to be - because your Inner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/there-are-no-choices-that-are-really-a-detour-that-will-take-you-far/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [We decided to play the NEC because we were asked to, and because we actually rather like the place: we've always enjoyed doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-eldritch/we-decided-to-play-the-nec-because-we-were-asked-to-and-because-we/) [Andrew Eldritch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-eldritch/) ## More by Jess Walter > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [Without sounding overly sentimental about the process, I'd say trying to describe how you tend to conceive of a book is like describing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/without-sounding-overly-sentimental-about-the-process-i-d-say-trying/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [“What person who has enjoyed life could possibly think one is enough?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/what-person-who-has-enjoyed-life-could-possibly-think-one-is-enough/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [For me, movies and television are interesting because they are the dominant storytelling form of our time. 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