--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing for the sake of writing, writing…" description: "\"“Writing for the sake of writing, writing that draws its credibility from its very existence, is a foreign idea to most Americans. As a culture, we wan..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/julia-cameron-830_creativity_writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-writing_3103934.png" --- # Writing for the sake of writing, writing that draws its… ![“Writing for the sake of writing, writing that draws its credibility from its very existence, is a foreign idea to most Americans. As a culture, we want cash on the barrel head. We want writing to earn dollars and sense so that it makes sense to us. We have a conviction—which is naive and…” quote by Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/julia-cameron-830_creativity_writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-writing_3103934.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/julia-cameron-830_creativity_writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-writing_3103934.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5be/julia-cameron-830_creativity_writing-for-the-sake-of-writing-writing_3103934.png) > ““Writing for the sake of writing, writing that draws its credibility from its very existence, is a foreign idea to most Americans. As a culture, we want cash on the barrel head. We want writing to earn dollars and sense so that it makes sense to us. We have a conviction—which is naive and misplaced—that being published has to do with being “good” while not being published has to do with being “amateur.” ... “Did you write today?” “Yes.” “Then you’re a writer today.” It would be lovely if being a writer were a permanent state that we could attain to. It’s not, or if it is, the permanence comes posthumously. A page at a time, a day at a time, is the way we must live our writing lives. Credibility lies in the act of writing. That is where the dignity is. That is where the final “credit” must come from.”” [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing’s value lies in the act itself, not in external validation; consistency builds credibility and dignity. **In simple terms:** Writing is valuable when you do it, not when praised. Key Takeaway Write daily for intrinsic worth. Themes creativity discipline self‑worth Mood motivational reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - journaling - blogging - novel drafting - academic work Key Concepts writing process authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you separate self‑validation from external praise? - What daily writing habit sustains you? A Different Perspective External rewards can still influence motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Credibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credibility/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Want Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-writing-392024/) [Write Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-today-357291/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer Permanent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-permanent-5391497/) [Writer Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-today-2258746/) [Writers-on-writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers-on-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Dignity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-dignity-5391498/) ## Related quotes > [Did you write today? Then you're a writer today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/did-you-write-today-then-you-re-a-writer-today/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [If you are a young writer today, it's very hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/if-you-are-a-young-writer-today-it-s-very-hard/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [For better or worse I'm the writer I am today because of hearing those Dylan records. For better and most certainly not for worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-erickson/for-better-or-worse-i-m-the-writer-i-am-today-because-of-hearing/) [Steve Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-erickson/) > [You're not going to be a writer someday. You're a writer today. Discipline yourself to write and take time to enjoy writing. Do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-heffron/you-re-not-going-to-be-a-writer-someday-you-re-a-writer-today/) [Jack Heffron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-heffron/) > [Keep your head down, avoid all the distractions of being a writer today—all the shifts in the business, all the drama, all the debating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-abbott/keep-your-head-down-avoid-all-the-distractions-of-being-a-writer/) [Jeff Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-abbott/) > [I'm not a writer, but today I think you have to be everything. As an artist you have an obligation to let people know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-m-not-a-writer-but-today-i-think-you-have-to-be-everything-as-an/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [A writer cannot put himself today in service of those who make history; he is at the service of those who suffer it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/a-writer-cannot-put-himself-today-in-service-of-those-who-make/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I think it's significantly easier to be a female writer today than in the early 1800's. That said, it's hard to imagine almost anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/i-think-it-s-significantly-easier-to-be-a-female-writer-today-than-in/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“Today I realized that what I wrote yesterday I really wrote today: everything from December 31 I wrote on January 1, i.e. today, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/today-i-realized-that-what-i-wrote-yesterday-i-really-wrote-today/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [Open this notebook every day and write down half a page at the very least. If you have nothing to write down, then at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniil-kharms/open-this-notebook-every-day-and-write-down-half-a-page-at-the-very/) [Daniil Kharms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniil-kharms/) > [Dreamt I died in Chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). Need to write my will today,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-welsh/dreamt-i-died-in-chicago-next-weekend-heart-attack-in-my-sleep-need/) [Mikey Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-welsh/) > [Write today's worries in sand. Chisel yesterday's victories in stone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/write-today-s-worries-in-sand-chisel-yesterday-s-victories-in-stone/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [I guess cant write today I'm so srry if it looks ugly my laptop was not working with the camera so I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ugly/i-guess-cant-write-today-i-m-so-srry-if-it-looks-ugly-my-laptop-was/) [Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ugly/) > [Write it down today, put it away, make sense of it tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-summers/write-it-down-today-put-it-away-make-sense-of-it-tomorrow/) [Courtney Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-summers/) > [As a rule, I am very skeptical of tying books to anniversaries. I don't think readers care. I also feel that it just about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/as-a-rule-i-am-very-skeptical-of-tying-books-to-anniversaries-i-don-t/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) ## More by Julia Cameron > [All too often, it is audacity and not talent that moves an artist to center stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/all-too-often-it-is-audacity-and-not-talent-that-moves-an-artist-to/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Fatigue can make it hard to have faith. Too much busyness can make it hard to have faith. Too much of too little solitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/fatigue-can-make-it-hard-to-have-faith-too-much-busyness-can-make-it/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [We are not accustomed to thinking that God's will for us and our own inner dreams can coincide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/we-are-not-accustomed-to-thinking-that-god-s-will-for-us-and-our-own/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/what-we-really-want-to-do-is-what-we-are-really-meant-to-do/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [The need to be a great artist makes it hard to be an artist. The need to produce a great work of art makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/the-need-to-be-a-great-artist-makes-it-hard-to-be-an-artist-the-need/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [All of us contain a divine, expressive spark, a creative candle intended to light our path and that of our fellows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/all-of-us-contain-a-divine-expressive-spark-a-creative-candle/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Possibility is far more frightening than impossibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/possibility-is-far-more-frightening-than-impossibility/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Creativity is our true nature; blocks are an unnatural thwarting of a process at once as normal and as miraculous as the blossoming of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/creativity-is-our-true-nature-blocks-are-an-unnatural-thwarting-of-a/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Just as a good rain clears the air, a good writing day clears the psyche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/just-as-a-good-rain-clears-the-air-a-good-writing-day-clears-the/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Survival lies in sanity, and sanity lies in paying attention...the capacity for delight is the gift of paying attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/survival-lies-in-sanity-and-sanity-lies-in-paying-attention-the/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Technology teaches passivity. Absorbed in our devices - at any age - we are absorbed in someone else's perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/technology-teaches-passivity-absorbed-in-our-devices-at-any-age-we/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [There's this mythology that parents are supposed to be parents 24/7 and are supposed to be completely fulfilled by their kids. That's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-s-this-mythology-that-parents-are-supposed-to-be-parents-24-7/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/perfectionism-is-not-a-quest-for-the-best-it-is-a-pursuit-of-the/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [I am compassionate. I allow my heart and imagination to embrace the difficulties and concerns of others. While maintaining my own balance, I find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/i-am-compassionate-i-allow-my-heart-and-imagination-to-embrace-the/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [All change can be expansive in potential. The choice is ours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/all-change-can-be-expansive-in-potential-the-choice-is-ours/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) [Explore all 358 Julia Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) ## More Creativity quotes > [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“The Soviet “creative intelligentsia” - that is, people accustomed to thinking one thing, saying another and doing a third - is as a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-amalrik/the-soviet-creative-intelligentsia-that-is-people-accustomed-to/) [Andrei Amalrik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-amalrik/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“You are the end of beauty and creativity one must have created so far.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/you-are-the-end-of-beauty-and-creativity-one-must-have-created-so-far/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Jonah Lehrer is one of the most talented explainers of science that we’ve got. What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/) [Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/) > [“I believe in magic. As a writer, I create them on blank paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonnia-kemmer/i-believe-in-magic-as-a-writer-i-create-them-on-blank-paper/) [Sonnia Kemmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonnia-kemmer/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) [Christoph Niemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christoph-niemann/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 13,625 Creativity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Writing for the sake of writing, writing that draws its credibility from its very existence, is a foreign idea to most Americans. As a culture, we want cash on the barrel head. We want writing to earn dollars and sense so that it makes sense to us. 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