--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never thought about being a writer as I…" description: "\"I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something I wanted to be. An outfielder was something to be. Most of what I know abo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/john-sayles-12623_baseball_i-never-thought-about-being-a-writer-as_169465.png" --- # I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A… ![“I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something I wanted to be. An outfielder was something to be. Most of what I know about style I learned from Roberto Clemente.” quote by John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/john-sayles-12623_baseball_i-never-thought-about-being-a-writer-as_169465.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/john-sayles-12623_baseball_i-never-thought-about-being-a-writer-as_169465.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/158/john-sayles-12623_baseball_i-never-thought-about-being-a-writer-as_169465.png) > “I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something I wanted to be. An outfielder was something to be. Most of what I know about style I learned from Roberto Clemente.” [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexpected paths can shape one’s identity; skills learned elsewhere can inform creative work. **In simple terms:** Life’s twists can lead to writing. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse experiences to enrich your craft. Themes career identity creativity learning Mood curious optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - sports career - career change - writing workshops - mentorship Key Concepts transferable skills self‑discovery inspiration Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected experience could inspire your writing? - How can you translate non‑writing skills into storytelling? A Different Perspective Risk of feeling unqualified when switching fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Why did I become a writer? Because I grew up in New York City, and there were seven newspapers in New York City, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-did-i-become-a-writer-because-i-grew-up-in-new-york-city-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [From a very early age, perhaps the age of five or six, I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/from-a-very-early-age-perhaps-the-age-of-five-or-six-i-knew-that-when/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“From ... the age of five or six, I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer. ... I tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/from-the-age-of-five-or-six-i-knew-that-when-i-grew-up-i-should-be-a/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [In many cases when a reader puts a story aside because it 'got boring,' the boredom arose because the writer grew enchanted with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-many-cases-when-a-reader-puts-a-story-aside-because-it-got-boring/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Wherever a writer grew up, they're obviously influenced by that area, and I'm sure their characters are pulled from those experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rash/wherever-a-writer-grew-up-they-re-obviously-influenced-by-that-area/) [Jim Rash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rash/) > [I decided early that I would be a writer when I grew up. That, I thought, was the profession that went with the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-levy/i-decided-early-that-i-would-be-a-writer-when-i-grew-up-that-i/) [Ariel Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-levy/) > [My father was a writer, so I grew up writing and reading and I was really encouraged by him. I had some sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/my-father-was-a-writer-so-i-grew-up-writing-and-reading-and-i-was-2/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [My father was a writer, so I grew up writing and reading and I was really encouraged by him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/my-father-was-a-writer-so-i-grew-up-writing-and-reading-and-i-was/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Becoming a writer wasn't a choice (there would have been far more worthwhile things to do); it was the best, most fruitful way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/becoming-a-writer-wasn-t-a-choice-there-would-have-been-far-more/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [I didn't know it was possible to be successful as a writer, so I wasn't afraid to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-didn-t-know-it-was-possible-to-be-successful-as-a-writer-so-i-wasn/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [“Then I understood. There was no book. My father wasn’t a writer. He wasn’t even a vampire. He was a madman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/then-i-understood-there-was-no-book-my-father-wasn-t-a-writer-he-wasn/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“He often said he had to be a writer because he wasn't good at anything else. He was not good at being an employee.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/he-often-said-he-had-to-be-a-writer-because-he-wasn-t-good-at/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [I wasn't entitled to dream so big. The idea of me being a writer wasn't even possible in my mind. Even when I began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/i-wasn-t-entitled-to-dream-so-big-the-idea-of-me-being-a-writer-wasn/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) > [I never met a writer who wasn't lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/i-never-met-a-writer-who-wasn-t-lazy/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [I definitely prefer directing, hands down. I'm a lazy writer and it wasn't until I got into directing that I now have a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coley-sohn/i-definitely-prefer-directing-hands-down-i-m-a-lazy-writer-and-it/) [Coley Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coley-sohn/) ## More by John Sayles > [But compared to writing a novel, where you can be God, I did the Bay of Pigs invasion in six pages once, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/but-compared-to-writing-a-novel-where-you-can-be-god-i-did-the-bay-of/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [Not that I've always loved the movie when they finally come out, or if they ever come out-because many of them don't come out-but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/not-that-i-ve-always-loved-the-movie-when-they-finally-come-out-or-if/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I think I got spoiled and that writing a short story and getting it published, or writing a novel and getting it published, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-think-i-got-spoiled-and-that-writing-a-short-story-and-getting-it/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [My argument has always been that this is not an anti-Bush film, it's a pro-democracy film. And if Bush comes out on the wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/my-argument-has-always-been-that-this-is-not-an-anti-bush-film-it-s-a/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [To this day, I get rewrite offers where they say: 'We feel this script needs work with character, dialogue, plot and tone,' and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/to-this-day-i-get-rewrite-offers-where-they-say-we-feel-this-script/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [And it was out in the theaters in two weeks. This is not, 'We're going to develop twenty-five and maybe one's going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/and-it-was-out-in-the-theaters-in-two-weeks-this-is-not-we-re-going/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [The media in America has become so cowed and compromised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/the-media-in-america-has-become-so-cowed-and-compromised/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [You get to say, 'Here's my philosophical idea about what the costume should like,' and the costume designer comes and gives you choices and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/you-get-to-say-here-s-my-philosophical-idea-about-what-the-costume/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [“There is great literature about imprisonment, . . . about the foot soldier, . . . about the sea -- but not one great work about flying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/there-is-great-literature-about-imprisonment-about-the-foot-soldier/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [Sometimes people can't afford to work for you, or they're not interested or available, and you hate to have written the whole movie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/sometimes-people-can-t-afford-to-work-for-you-or-they-re-not/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I certainly grew up seeing more movies and television than I read books, but when it came time to do the thing itself you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-certainly-grew-up-seeing-more-movies-and-television-than-i-read/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [When I read a story or see something play out in front of me I say, how come nobody's made a movie or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/when-i-read-a-story-or-see-something-play-out-in-front-of-me-i-say/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [For me the writing, when I'm going to direct it myself, is really just the first draft, and I don't change it very much;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/for-me-the-writing-when-i-m-going-to-direct-it-myself-is-really-just/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I remember being out here at the Sunset Marquis, and whoever knocked on the door, I would take that picture that I was writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-remember-being-out-here-at-the-sunset-marquis-and-whoever-knocked/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) > [I don't have a social agenda. I just don't choose to ignore what's in front of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sayles/i-don-t-have-a-social-agenda-i-just-don-t-choose-to-ignore-what-s-in/) [John Sayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) [Explore all 54 John Sayles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sayles/) ## More Baseball quotes > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/) [Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/) > [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/) [Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/) [Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/) [Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/) [George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/) > [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/) [Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/) > [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/) [Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/) > [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/) [Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/) > [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray & Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/) [Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/) > [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/) [John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/) > [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) [Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never thought about being a writer as I grew up. A writer wasn't something I wanted to be. An outfielder was something to be. 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