--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Alice heard a woman say, 'Before I start…" description: "\"“Alice heard a woman say, 'Before I start writing I feel affectionate, interested, and frustrated. In that order. Afterwards I feel relieved, disgusted..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/joy-williams-12254_feel_alice-heard-a-woman-say-before-i-start-w_2449420.jpg" --- # Alice heard a woman say, 'Before I start writing I feel… ![“Alice heard a woman say, 'Before I start writing I feel affectionate, interested, and frustrated. In that order. Afterwards I feel relieved, disgusted, and confused. Sometimes I don't think it's worth it.” quote by Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/joy-williams-12254_feel_alice-heard-a-woman-say-before-i-start-w_2449420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/joy-williams-12254_feel_alice-heard-a-woman-say-before-i-start-w_2449420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/joy-williams-12254_feel_alice-heard-a-woman-say-before-i-start-w_2449420.jpg) > ““Alice heard a woman say, 'Before I start writing I feel affectionate, interested, and frustrated. In that order. Afterwards I feel relieved, disgusted, and confused. Sometimes I don't think it's worth it.”” [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer describes a cycle of mixed emotions before and after writing, highlighting both attraction and frustration, then relief and confusion, questioning the value of the process. **In simple terms:** Writing triggers complex feelings, leading to doubt about its worth. Key Takeaway Acknowledge emotions, but keep writing. Themes creativity emotions self\_doubt Mood reflective introspective Type literary personal When to use this quote - writing sessions - creative blocks - self\_reflection - artistic growth Key Concepts psychology artistic\_process Questions to Reflect On - Do you write despite discomfort? - How can you reframe frustration as motivation? A Different Perspective Emotions may hinder productivity and confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disgusted Confused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disgusted-confused-558418/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feel Affectionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-affectionate-558417/) [Feel Relieved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel-relieved-301683/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-feel/) ## Related quotes > [I feel very affectionate towards my younger self and all of my fellow collaborators. I think that we were very brave at times. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linder-sterling/i-feel-very-affectionate-towards-my-younger-self-and-all-of-my-fellow/) [Linder Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linder-sterling/) > [...It's an unmeetable level of writing. 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Clement Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-clement-stone/) > [You will feel more relieved once you have dropped all the anger you've been carrying in your heart by replacing it with forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chee-vai-tang/you-will-feel-more-relieved-once-you-have-dropped-all-the-anger-you/) [Chee Vai Tang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chee-vai-tang/) > [“He says "You are my property" and I feel relieved. After all, no one wishes to shatter what he owns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malak-el-halabi/he-says-you-are-my-property-and-i-feel-relieved-after-all-no-one/) [Malak El Halabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malak-el-halabi/) > [If I could go back to my younger self, I would never have had the implants done. I feel relieved and I feel proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-ballas/if-i-could-go-back-to-my-younger-self-i-would-never-have-had-the/) [Shirley Ballas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-ballas/) > [“How do survivors feel? Relieved and grateful, perhaps. As excited about their saved life as if it were a gift that the rustling fingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sima-b-moussavian/how-do-survivors-feel-relieved-and-grateful-perhaps-as-excited-about/) [Sima B. Moussavian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sima-b-moussavian/) > [There is nothing more painful to me at this stage in my life than to walk down the street and hear footsteps... then turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/there-is-nothing-more-painful-to-me-at-this-stage-in-my-life-than-to/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven depending on whether they compare it to something better and so feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/to-different-minds-the-same-world-is-a-hell-and-a-heaven-depending-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [May feel relieved to know me everyday, but one day will be gone, because It negate itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-andrea/may-feel-relieved-to-know-me-everyday-but-one-day-will-be-gone/) [Sarah Andrea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-andrea/) > [We are still focussing too much on gender. If we all just gave ourselves a break, knowing that we could all be everything, we'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-cairney/we-are-still-focussing-too-much-on-gender-if-we-all-just-gave/) [Gemma Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-cairney/) > [Before 'Power,' I got down to $86 in my bank account. 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We are saved because we are loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/we-are-saved-not-because-we-are-worthy-we-are-saved-because-we-are/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [There is a certain type of conversation one hears only when one is drunk and it is like a dream, full of humor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/there-is-a-certain-type-of-conversation-one-hears-only-when-one-is/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [A side benefit of the new and developing technologies is that soon we won't have to feel guilty about the suffering and denigration of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/a-side-benefit-of-the-new-and-developing-technologies-is-that-soon-we/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [Good writing never soothes or comforts. 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If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/for-centuries-poets-some-poets-have-tried-to-give-a-voice-to-the/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [The writer trusts nothing she writes-it should be too reckless and alive for that, it should be beautiful and menacing and slightly out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-williams/the-writer-trusts-nothing-she-writes-it-should-be-too-reckless-and/) [Joy Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-williams/) > [“Down in the kitchen, I open the refrigerator. 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Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [I feel I handle the pressure situations well, and that's why I want to be there at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-feel-i-handle-the-pressure-situations-well-and-that-s-why-i-want-to/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I feel as though I've fooled the world into thinking I'm an adult and now they're letting me procreate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-murray/i-feel-as-though-i-ve-fooled-the-world-into-thinking-i-m-an-adult-and/) [George Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-murray/) > [I feel like I could eat the world raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-miller/i-feel-like-i-could-eat-the-world-raw/) [Madeline Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-miller/) > [I like to wear bodysuits and things that make me feel really active and athletic and also really sensual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-like-to-wear-bodysuits-and-things-that-make-me-feel-really-active/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [You can't force people to feel in a certain way, and the sooner you understand that,the better. I feel everything has its way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidharth-malhotra/you-can-t-force-people-to-feel-in-a-certain-way-and-the-sooner-you/) [Sidharth Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidharth-malhotra/) > [You make me feel brand new today. 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