--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For me, the writing life doesn't just…" description: "\"For me, the writing life doesn't just happen when I sit at the writing desk. It is a life lived with a centering principle, and mine is this: that I wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/julia-alvarez-21215_alive_for-me-the-writing-life-doesn-t-just-hap_1471581.jpg" --- # For me, the writing life doesn't just happen when I sit at… ![“For me, the writing life doesn't just happen when I sit at the writing desk. It is a life lived with a centering principle, and mine is this: that I will pay close attention to this world I find myself in. 'My heart keeps open house,' was the way the poet Theodore Roethke put it in a poem. And…” quote by Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/julia-alvarez-21215_alive_for-me-the-writing-life-doesn-t-just-hap_1471581.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/julia-alvarez-21215_alive_for-me-the-writing-life-doesn-t-just-hap_1471581.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e9/julia-alvarez-21215_alive_for-me-the-writing-life-doesn-t-just-hap_1471581.jpg) > “For me, the writing life doesn't just happen when I sit at the writing desk. It is a life lived with a centering principle, and mine is this: that I will pay close attention to this world I find myself in. 'My heart keeps open house,' was the way the poet Theodore Roethke put it in a poem. And rendering in language what one sees through the opened windows and doors of that house is a way of bearing witness to the mystery of what it is to be alive in this world.” [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) ## 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 must stay attentive to the world, letting experiences flow into language as a form of witnessing existence. **In simple terms:** Pay attention and write what you see. Key Takeaway Observe and translate life into words. Themes observation creativity mindfulness Mood thoughtful reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - journaling - travel writing - daily observation - nature walks Key Concepts presence reflection authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does openness shape your writing? - What does bearing witness mean to you? A Different Perspective May become too passive if not balanced with action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Bearing witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bearing-witness/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Windows and doors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/windows-and-doors/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If critics want to help me, let them come sit next to me while I'm writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/if-critics-want-to-help-me-let-them-come-sit-next-to-me-while-i-m/) [Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/) > [I think that the joy of writing a novel is the self-exploratio n that emerges and also that wonderful feeling of playing God with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/i-think-that-the-joy-of-writing-a-novel-is-the-self-exploratio-n-that/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“Parallel Realities: While people sit in a coffee shop talking about their problems, challenges and struggles, I sit among them writing books with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/parallel-realities-while-people-sit-in-a-coffee-shop-talking-about/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [Do you want to do this thing? Sit down and do it. Are you not writing? Keep sitting there. Does it not feel right?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/do-you-want-to-do-this-thing-sit-down-and-do-it-are-you-not-writing/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [After I left Treasury, I think in some ways it was harder to sit there and be writing my book... listening to all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-paulson/after-i-left-treasury-i-think-in-some-ways-it-was-harder-to-sit-there/) [Henry Paulson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-paulson/) > [I try to keep my eyes and ears open all the time for the bones of my next song: things people say, melodies I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-kimbrough/i-try-to-keep-my-eyes-and-ears-open-all-the-time-for-the-bones-of-my/) [Will Kimbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-kimbrough/) > [It's very lucky to be able to do a job where I get to sit about writing plays all day and going to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wade/it-s-very-lucky-to-be-able-to-do-a-job-where-i-get-to-sit-about/) [Laura Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wade/) > [When I sit down at my writing desk, time seems to vanish. I think it's a wonderful way to spend one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/when-i-sit-down-at-my-writing-desk-time-seems-to-vanish-i-think-it-s/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [“The Eliots found it a queer sort of evening - a transition evening. Hitherto the Herb of Grace had been to them a summer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/the-eliots-found-it-a-queer-sort-of-evening-a-transition-evening/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“Then a scream of steam, a mighty jolt; and the thunder-rattle recommences, and the train again begins to rock in mad storms of dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/then-a-scream-of-steam-a-mighty-jolt-and-the-thunder-rattle/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [God never put us in a room that has no windows and doors. Prayer open every doors and form an exit to any problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-fwea-d/god-never-put-us-in-a-room-that-has-no-windows-and-doors-prayer-open/) G-Fwea D > [“I trust you above all others", he told her. "Above myself". She shook her head, but then leaned into him, as though taking shelter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-wecker/i-trust-you-above-all-others-he-told-her-above-myself-she-shook-her/) [Helene Wecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-wecker/) > [“windows and doors.  His thoughts kept returning to the parked PT Cruiser in the driveway. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-harmon/windows-and-doors-his-thoughts-kept-returning-to-the-parked-pt/) [Brian Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-harmon/) > [“Sitting next to Tilo, breathing next to her, he felt like an empty house whose locked windows and doors were creaking open a little,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/sitting-next-to-tilo-breathing-next-to-her-he-felt-like-an-empty/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Night is a curious child, wandering Between earth and sky, creeping In windows and doors, daubing The entire neighborhood With purple paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-marshall-davis/night-is-a-curious-child-wandering-between-earth-and-sky-creeping-in/) Frank Marshall Davis ## More by Julia Alvarez > [Independence didn't have to be exile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/independence-didn-t-have-to-be-exile/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [A book does not discriminate against any reader. All are welcome at the table of literature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/a-book-does-not-discriminate-against-any-reader-all-are-welcome-at/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [It's always gratifying to hear from a passionate reader, and as a longtime educator, I'm especially pleased and heartened when that reader is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/it-s-always-gratifying-to-hear-from-a-passionate-reader-and-as-a/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [I admit that for me love goes deeper than the struggle, or maybe what I mean is, love is the deeper struggle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/i-admit-that-for-me-love-goes-deeper-than-the-struggle-or-maybe-what/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [Literature is about being a complex, contradictory human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/literature-is-about-being-a-complex-contradictory-human-being/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [Depression is always in the details.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/depression-is-always-in-the-details/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [I grew up in a dictatorship, where you couldn't talk about difficult situations - there was this culture of silence. We would run into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/i-grew-up-in-a-dictatorship-where-you-couldn-t-talk-about-difficult/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [Terrence, the Roman slave who freed himself with his writings, once observed, "I am a human being. Nothing human is alien to me." That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/terrence-the-roman-slave-who-freed-himself-with-his-writings-once/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [Each of us will have to make the choices that allow us to be the largest versions of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/each-of-us-will-have-to-make-the-choices-that-allow-us-to-be-the/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [I think it is important to know how to teach new material to help young people grow and learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/i-think-it-is-important-to-know-how-to-teach-new-material-to-help/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [Reading is a way to take in the difficult situations and understand them. The whole point of reading a book in class is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/reading-is-a-way-to-take-in-the-difficult-situations-and-understand/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [I write to find out what I am thinking. I write to find out who I am. I write to understand things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/i-write-to-find-out-what-i-am-thinking-i-write-to-find-out-who-i-am-i/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [The elasticity of imagination and compassion is what writing and reading promote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/the-elasticity-of-imagination-and-compassion-is-what-writing-and/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [Reading and thoughtfulness and openness are the best way, I should think, to begin to address the richness that is in each of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/reading-and-thoughtfulness-and-openness-are-the-best-way-i-should/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) > [Marjorie Agosin proves the power of the word to transport us to the center of her humane and human vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-alvarez/marjorie-agosin-proves-the-power-of-the-word-to-transport-us-to-the/) [Julia Alvarez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) [Explore all 29 Julia Alvarez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-alvarez/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [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 > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For me, the writing life doesn't just happen when I sit at the writing desk. It is a life lived with a centering principle, and mine is this: that I will pay close attention to this world I find myself in. 'My heart keeps open house,' was the way the poet Theodore Roethke put it in a poem. 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