--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I sat down with a yellow legal pad and…" description: "\"I sat down with a yellow legal pad and began writing 'A Time to Kill.' Had no idea what I was doing. It became, over a period of several years, a secre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/john-grisham-974_hobby_i-sat-down-with-a-yellow-legal-pad-and-b_1606873.jpg" --- # I sat down with a yellow legal pad and began writing 'A… ![“I sat down with a yellow legal pad and began writing 'A Time to Kill.' Had no idea what I was doing. It became, over a period of several years, a secret little hobby nobody knew about except my wife, because she was reading chapter by chapter.” quote by John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/john-grisham-974_hobby_i-sat-down-with-a-yellow-legal-pad-and-b_1606873.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/john-grisham-974_hobby_i-sat-down-with-a-yellow-legal-pad-and-b_1606873.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adb/john-grisham-974_hobby_i-sat-down-with-a-yellow-legal-pad-and-b_1606873.jpg) > “I sat down with a yellow legal pad and began writing 'A Time to Kill.' Had no idea what I was doing. It became, over a period of several years, a secret little hobby nobody knew about except my wife, because she was reading chapter by chapter.” [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He started writing a novel without a plan, turning it into a long‑term secret hobby. **In simple terms:** Started a project without knowing the outcome. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and keep writing. Themes creativity writing perseverance Mood reflective inspired Type creative personal When to use this quote - personal projects - writing practice - creative exploration Key Concepts novel writing habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What small project could you start today? - How do you keep motivation without external validation? A Different Perspective The hobby may limit professional growth if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Began Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/began-writing/) [Hobby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobby/) [Hobby Knew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobby-knew-6121333/) [Legal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal/) [Pad Began](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pad-began-6121334/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time to kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-to-kill/) [Wife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wife/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a physicist and computer scientist by training. I worked in high tech for thirty years as everything from engineer to senior vice president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/i-m-a-physicist-and-computer-scientist-by-training-i-worked-in-high/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [I had never written anything. And I had never studied writing. So my motives were pure: I had a great story... a courtroom drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/i-had-never-written-anything-and-i-had-never-studied-writing-so-my/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [For me, writing is fun. The day I quit my job and take up writing full time, writing will become just another job. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/for-me-writing-is-fun-the-day-i-quit-my-job-and-take-up-writing-full/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [Life's too short to be sat at home writing all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hodgman/life-s-too-short-to-be-sat-at-home-writing-all-the-time/) [Helen Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hodgman/) > [“I thought of summer as the living time; the rest of the year was the backward time, the writing time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/i-thought-of-summer-as-the-living-time-the-rest-of-the-year-was-the/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Writing time has to be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-roberts/writing-time-has-to-be-created/) [Gillian Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-roberts/) > [The actual writing time is a lot shorter than the thinking time. I don't do too many notes. I keep it mostly in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/the-actual-writing-time-is-a-lot-shorter-than-the-thinking-time-i-don/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [I have a great many shortcomings, but writing for something on time has never bothered me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-previn/i-have-a-great-many-shortcomings-but-writing-for-something-on-time/) [Andre Previn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-previn/) > [When I started writing full time I had not long stopped being a teacher and when at last I had a full day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-doyle/when-i-started-writing-full-time-i-had-not-long-stopped-being-a/) [Roddy Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-doyle/) > [To make time for writing, one has to take time out from somewhere. Obviously, a fair amount of time that you spend with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-subramanian/to-make-time-for-writing-one-has-to-take-time-out-from-somewhere/) [Ravi Subramanian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-subramanian/) > [I write until the first draft is finished, and then I feel that I can get out. But, during the time of the writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/i-write-until-the-first-draft-is-finished-and-then-i-feel-that-i-can/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [“Is that how it goes with writing? That as long as you are writing, no time is ever completely in the past? Is this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyung-sook-shin/is-that-how-it-goes-with-writing-that-as-long-as-you-are-writing-no/) [Kyung-Sook Shin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyung-sook-shin/) > [You have to be very clear with yourself about how you're going to spend your time. When a child is at school or napping,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/you-have-to-be-very-clear-with-yourself-about-how-you-re-going-to/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [“But, later, coming back and reading what I have produced, I am unable to detect the difference between what came easily and when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-herbert/but-later-coming-back-and-reading-what-i-have-produced-i-am-unable-to/) [Frank Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-herbert/) > [“Writing time is for writing, not for checking e-mail, reading the news, or browsing the latest issues of journals. Sometimes I think it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-j-silvia/writing-time-is-for-writing-not-for-checking-e-mail-reading-the-news/) [Paul J. Silvia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-j-silvia/) ## More by John Grisham > [“Do you read them? Faulkner, Hemingway, Fitzgerald?" "Only if I have to. I try to avoid old dead white men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/do-you-read-them-faulkner-hemingway-fitzgerald-only-if-i-have-to-i/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“Cuando duermes, engañas al sistema. El tiempo del sueño te pertenece a ti y no al Estado.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/cuando-duermes-enga-as-al-sistema-el-tiempo-del-sue-o-te-pertenece-a/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“The Senator did not know who owned the jet, nor had he ever met Mr. Trudeau, which in most cultures would seem odd since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/the-senator-did-not-know-who-owned-the-jet-nor-had-he-ever-met-mr/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“What kind of name is Siler-Spence? I mean, what's wrong with these women who use hyphens? What if her name was Skowinski and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/what-kind-of-name-is-siler-spence-i-mean-what-s-wrong-with-these/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“In that case, the truck driver took the stand, swore to tell the truth, then lied for three hours. He said Gretchen crossed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/in-that-case-the-truck-driver-took-the-stand-swore-to-tell-the-truth/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [I'm being followed so much I'm causing traffic jams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/i-m-being-followed-so-much-i-m-causing-traffic-jams/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [Quite often I can be in a bookshop, standing beneath a great big picture of myself and paying for a book with a credit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/quite-often-i-can-be-in-a-bookshop-standing-beneath-a-great-big/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [Reading is by far the most successful pursuit of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/reading-is-by-far-the-most-successful-pursuit-of-happiness/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“We were invincible because we were eighteen and stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/we-were-invincible-because-we-were-eighteen-and-stupid/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“One good thing about jail is that it allows you to think a lot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/one-good-thing-about-jail-is-that-it-allows-you-to-think-a-lot/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [In my case, once you sell a lot of books and you are labeled a bestselling author, the serious critics are never gonna say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/in-my-case-once-you-sell-a-lot-of-books-and-you-are-labeled-a/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [Twenty years on, the books are still fun to write and I've still got lots of stories I want to tell, mainly about social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/twenty-years-on-the-books-are-still-fun-to-write-and-i-ve-still-got/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [Sometimes I can tackle an issue -homelessness, tobacco litigation, insurance fraud, the death penalty - and wrap a good story around it. These are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/sometimes-i-can-tackle-an-issue-homelessness-tobacco-litigation/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“So why do these guys hate your guts?” “Because they believe strip-mining is a good thing. It provides jobs, and there are few jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/so-why-do-these-guys-hate-your-guts-because-they-believe-strip-mining/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) > [“In little pockets of conversation, old men were telling stories of ancient floods. Women were talking of about how much rain there'd been in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grisham/in-little-pockets-of-conversation-old-men-were-telling-stories-of/) [John Grisham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) [Explore all 316 John Grisham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grisham/) ## More Hobby quotes > [Food as a hobby used to be an elite pastime, and it has become something that is totally ordinary for people of every background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-as-a-hobby-used-to-be-an-elite-pastime-and-it-has-become/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [Without a customer, you don't have a business - all you have is a hobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-peppers/without-a-customer-you-don-t-have-a-business-all-you-have-is-a-hobby/) [Don Peppers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-peppers/) > [After so many years of rejection, I felt acting would have to become a hobby rather than a full-time profession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatima-sana-shaikh/after-so-many-years-of-rejection-i-felt-acting-would-have-to-become-a/) [Fatima Sana Shaikh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatima-sana-shaikh/) > [I wouldn't call girls a hobby. It's a pastime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/i-wouldn-t-call-girls-a-hobby-it-s-a-pastime/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [“You know, people start things for different reasons. But ultimately it turns into pure passion and one becomes insatiate. There is no end once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhaidev/you-know-people-start-things-for-different-reasons-but-ultimately-it/) [Abhaidev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhaidev/) > [I think that when I was child, acting was mostly just a hobby for me. It was something that my parents encouraged me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-think-that-when-i-was-child-acting-was-mostly-just-a-hobby-for-me/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [Movies are a hobby for me. I think storytelling has reached a new level where younger audiences are looking at something more real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-screwvala/movies-are-a-hobby-for-me-i-think-storytelling-has-reached-a-new/) [Ronnie Screwvala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-screwvala/) > [Standup comedy was my weird hobby. I would drag my poor parents out to the only open mics that were in coffee shops instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/standup-comedy-was-my-weird-hobby-i-would-drag-my-poor-parents-out-to/) [Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/) > [When I started in 2007, YouTube was just a fun hobby for others and myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franchesca-ramsey/when-i-started-in-2007-youtube-was-just-a-fun-hobby-for-others-and/) [Franchesca Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franchesca-ramsey/) > [Music was always encouraged as a passion and a hobby, but I was never told, 'This should be your job. You write music and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-dacus/music-was-always-encouraged-as-a-passion-and-a-hobby-but-i-was-never/) [Lucy Dacus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-dacus/) > [I would never want to model as my career, but fashion is my hobby. When you love what you're wearing, you feel good. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-valverde/i-would-never-want-to-model-as-my-career-but-fashion-is-my-hobby-when/) [Maria Valverde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-valverde/) > [I am essentially a hack, a commercial person. If I had a hobby, I would immediately make money on it or abandon it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-welles/i-am-essentially-a-hack-a-commercial-person-if-i-had-a-hobby-i-would/) [Orson Welles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-welles/) > [Watching movies, making quotes, cooking,and singing is my hobbies.how about yours? enjoy life and make your life style very enjoyable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-alapan/watching-movies-making-quotes-cooking-and-singing-is-my-hobbies-how/) [Mitch Alapan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-alapan/) > [A lot of my time is spent watching films and reading scripts. And it can be all-consuming. And it's obviously something I'm fortunate that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/a-lot-of-my-time-is-spent-watching-films-and-reading-scripts-and-it/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [The writing became a hobby in the background: it took a back seat to parenthood and being a person and being a human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/the-writing-became-a-hobby-in-the-background-it-took-a-back-seat-to/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) [Browse all 621 Hobby quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hobby/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I sat down with a yellow legal pad and began writing 'A Time to Kill.' Had no idea what I was doing. 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