---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: All this talk about writing is a little…"
description: "\"All this talk about writing is a little bit moot, because it is almost an unthinking process. It is actually a paradox because you are constantly makin..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/julia-leigh-21931_about_all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little_2796794.png"
---

#  All this talk about writing is a little bit moot, because…

![“All this talk about writing is a little bit moot, because it is almost an unthinking process. It is actually a paradox because you are constantly making choices.” quote by Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/julia-leigh-21931_about_all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little_2796794.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/julia-leigh-21931_about_all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little_2796794.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/julia-leigh-21931_about_all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little_2796794.png)

> “All this talk about writing is a little bit moot, because it is almost an unthinking process. It is actually a paradox because you are constantly making choices.”

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writing can feel automatic yet paradoxically involves constant conscious choices.

**In simple terms:** Writing is both unthinking and choice‑driven.

Key Takeaway

Embrace the paradox of creative process.

Themes

creativity process paradox

Mood

analytical thoughtful

Type

creative philosophical

When to use this quote

- authoring a novel
- editing
- brainstorming

Key Concepts

mindful writing artistic flow

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance intuition and deliberation?
- What choices define your writing voice?

A Different Perspective

Automation may stifle originality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually/) [Almost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/almost/) [Because](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/because/) [Bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bit/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Constantly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constantly/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making/) [Making choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-choices/) [Moot Unthinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moot-unthinking-3419103/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk/) [Talk Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talk-writing-272969/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-little-777599/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [I feel like I was writing as I was learning to talk. Writing was always a go-to form of communication. And I knew I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/i-feel-like-i-was-writing-as-i-was-learning-to-talk-writing-was/)

[Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/)

> [The secret to writing is writing. Lots of people I know talk about writing. They will tell me about the book they are going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/the-secret-to-writing-is-writing-lots-of-people-i-know-talk-about/)

[Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/)

> [Whenever you talk about writing I think you have to remember that it all has a big question mark over it - every word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/whenever-you-talk-about-writing-i-think-you-have-to-remember-that-it/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [It's my belief that I was a writer - a very hardworking writer - well before I was published. I did care what others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-jin-lee/it-s-my-belief-that-i-was-a-writer-a-very-hardworking-writer-well/)

[Min Jin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-jin-lee/)

> [There are many things I think about that never get to the point of becoming serious. In other words, I try to talk myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandar-hemon/there-are-many-things-i-think-about-that-never-get-to-the-point-of/)

[Aleksandar Hemon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandar-hemon/)

> [Artists are expected to talk about their work but writers aren't expected to talk about their writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schjeldahl/artists-are-expected-to-talk-about-their-work-but-writers-aren-t/)

[Peter Schjeldahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schjeldahl/)

> [I don't talk very well. With writing, you've time to get it right. Also I've found the more I talk the less I write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bennett/i-don-t-talk-very-well-with-writing-you-ve-time-to-get-it-right-also/)

[Alan Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bennett/)

> [Write. Don't talk about writing. Don't tell me about your wonderful story ideas. Don't give me a bunch of "somedays." Plant your ass and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-cook/write-don-t-talk-about-writing-don-t-tell-me-about-your-wonderful/)

[Glen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-cook/)

> [In my writing class, we never, ever talk about the writing - ever. We never address a story that's been read. I also won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/in-my-writing-class-we-never-ever-talk-about-the-writing-ever-we/)

[Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/)

> [I'm too shy for personal appearances, and I've found out that anytime I talk about my writing, I can't do any writing for many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-tyler/i-m-too-shy-for-personal-appearances-and-i-ve-found-out-that-anytime/)

[Anne Tyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-tyler/)

> [A lot of people talk to me about writing lyrics and it is obvious they are really paying attention to the fact that ours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/a-lot-of-people-talk-to-me-about-writing-lyrics-and-it-is-obvious/)

[Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/)

> [I always tell audiences when I talk about writing: Writing isn't something I do; writing is something that I am. I am writing -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/i-always-tell-audiences-when-i-talk-about-writing-writing-isn-t/)

[Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/)

> [When I've taught writing to five, six, and seven year olds, it's not very different than talking to an adult writer. They're writers then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-mattison/when-i-ve-taught-writing-to-five-six-and-seven-year-olds-it-s-not/)

[Alice Mattison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-mattison/)

> [Clear writing is universal. People talk about writing down to an audience or writing up to an audience; I think that's nonsense. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/clear-writing-is-universal-people-talk-about-writing-down-to-an/)

[Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/)

> [It's really hard to talk about writing, and I'm usually conscious if I'm misleading people or misleading the questioner, because the problem with writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/it-s-really-hard-to-talk-about-writing-and-i-m-usually-conscious-if-i/)

[Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/)

## More by Julia Leigh

> [I've never forgotten what it's like to be in your early twenties, which is not a particularly easy time. You've left your family, you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/i-ve-never-forgotten-what-it-s-like-to-be-in-your-early-twenties/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [I'm trying to get under people's skin in a way. I don't like films that go in one ear and out the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/i-m-trying-to-get-under-people-s-skin-in-a-way-i-don-t-like-films/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [It's dangerous to think too much about how a film will be received. Filmmaking is not a popularity contest. Some would disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/it-s-dangerous-to-think-too-much-about-how-a-film-will-be-received/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [I always find it extremely hard to remember the act of beginning. I almost deliberately forget it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/i-always-find-it-extremely-hard-to-remember-the-act-of-beginning-i/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [The great thing about being a writer is that you have a long, perhaps frighteningly long time in which to do your work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/the-great-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-you-have-a-long-perhaps/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [I don't think good films have messages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/i-don-t-think-good-films-have-messages/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [Although filmmaking is collaborative and involves trust, ultimately it is the director who holds the whole picture together in their head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/although-filmmaking-is-collaborative-and-involves-trust-ultimately-it/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [One of the most ephemeral and important things is atmosphere and tone and it's very hard to put your finger on what creates that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/one-of-the-most-ephemeral-and-important-things-is-atmosphere-and-tone/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [“Dark here comes quickly. He undresses and slips into his silky cold sleeping bag. Up above, the clouds mask the stars and the moon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/dark-here-comes-quickly-he-undresses-and-slips-into-his-silky-cold/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [Work infuses my whole life. My creative life is my real life, so it's hard to separate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/work-infuses-my-whole-life-my-creative-life-is-my-real-life-so-it-s/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [We stitch together our days and edit out our nights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/we-stitch-together-our-days-and-edit-out-our-nights/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [I think patients and doctors alike minimise the physical, emotional, and financial toll of IVF.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/i-think-patients-and-doctors-alike-minimise-the-physical-emotional/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [To me, the question of inspiration is an exercise in hindsight. The truth is, inspiration is mysterious at the time. I don't think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/to-me-the-question-of-inspiration-is-an-exercise-in-hindsight-the/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [The concentration of the elite athlete is akin perhaps to the concentration of the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/the-concentration-of-the-elite-athlete-is-akin-perhaps-to-the/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

> [I wanted to transmit what it feels like to be on the so-called IVF emotional rollercoaster, and I guess I wanted to offer a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/i-wanted-to-transmit-what-it-feels-like-to-be-on-the-so-called-ivf/)

[Julia Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

[Explore all 28 Julia Leigh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "All this talk about writing is a little bit moot, because it is almost an unthinking process. It is actually a paradox because you are constantly making choices.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Julia Leigh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little-bit-moot-because-it-is-almost/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little-bit-moot-because-it-is-almost/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/julia-leigh-21931_about_all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little_2796794.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/julia-leigh-21931_about_all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little_2796794.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/929/julia-leigh-21931_about_all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little_2796794.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“All this talk about writing is a little bit moot, because it is almost an unthinking process. It is actually…” — Julia Leigh",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Julia Leigh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-leigh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "All this talk about writing is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little-bit-moot-because-it-is-almost/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-leigh/all-this-talk-about-writing-is-a-little-bit-moot-because-it-is-almost/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
