--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I always think about myself as a writer…" description: "\"I always think about myself as a writer; that comes out of being a reader first, and I don't think I kind of got to really playing with language in any..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/junot-diaz-531_books_i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer_2690420.jpg" --- # I always think about myself as a writer; that comes out of… ![“I always think about myself as a writer; that comes out of being a reader first, and I don't think I kind of got to really playing with language in any formal way probably until I was in my mid-twenties.” quote by Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/junot-diaz-531_books_i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer_2690420.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/junot-diaz-531_books_i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer_2690420.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/junot-diaz-531_books_i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer_2690420.jpg) > “I always think about myself as a writer; that comes out of being a reader first, and I don't think I kind of got to really playing with language in any formal way probably until I was in my mid-twenties.” [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing stems from reading; the author began serious language play in their mid‑twenties. **In simple terms:** Reading leads to writing; start later if needed. Key Takeaway Embrace reading to develop writing. Themes creativity learning age Mood inspired thoughtful Type reflective advice When to use this quote - writing workshops - book clubs - college courses - self‑study - career shifts Key Concepts literature developmental psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does reading shape your voice? - When did you feel ready to write? A Different Perspective Late start may limit early opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Twenties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twenties/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I was still thought of as a kid actor even though I was in my mid twenties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-rettig/i-was-still-thought-of-as-a-kid-actor-even-though-i-was-in-my-mid/) [Tommy Rettig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-rettig/) > [Foreign languages was the only thing that interested me when I was at school, so playing in another language... it is quite demanding because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wlaschiha/foreign-languages-was-the-only-thing-that-interested-me-when-i-was-at/) [Tom Wlaschiha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wlaschiha/) > [I love playing with language and the rhythm of language - for some reason, this seems so much easier for me to do when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uzodinma-iweala/i-love-playing-with-language-and-the-rhythm-of-language-for-some/) [Uzodinma Iweala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uzodinma-iweala/) > [That’s what I like about sports. No matter if everyone playing the game speaks completely different languages, on the field, or the court, wherever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/that-s-what-i-like-about-sports-no-matter-if-everyone-playing-the/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [I think that most of my writer friends are really compulsive. I think that's great. It's wonderful for them. It's just not my bag.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-think-that-most-of-my-writer-friends-are-really-compulsive-i-think/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [I'm a pretty decent writer. It comes easy to me. I don't agonize over sentences. I write like I talk. I try to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/i-m-a-pretty-decent-writer-it-comes-easy-to-me-i-don-t-agonize-over/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [In the moment of reading, the writer comes up to the surface and the reader comes up to the surface and they kiss, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-the-moment-of-reading-the-writer-comes-up-to-the-surface-and-the/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [When a new writer comes onto a project, he'll make wholesale changes just to mark the territory or for greater credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-spaihts/when-a-new-writer-comes-onto-a-project-he-ll-make-wholesale-changes/) [Jon Spaihts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-spaihts/) > [We never know how much has been missing from our lives until a true writer comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-kazin/we-never-know-how-much-has-been-missing-from-our-lives-until-a-true/) [Alfred Kazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-kazin/) > [I'm not that interested in writing for myself. 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It's nothing to do with me; I hate travel writing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/i-don-t-know-where-this-thing-about-me-being-a-travel-writer-comes/) [Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/) > [Occasionally a student writer comes up with something really beautiful and moving, and you won't know for years if it was an accident or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-nemerov/occasionally-a-student-writer-comes-up-with-something-really/) [Howard Nemerov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-nemerov/) > [Well, in features, and in writing especially, it's often the style of the writer comes in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-loder/well-in-features-and-in-writing-especially-it-s-often-the-style-of/) [Kurt Loder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-loder/) ## More by Junot Diaz > [It might interest you that just as the U.S. was ramping up its involvement in Vietnam, LBJ launched an illegal invasion of the Dominican…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-might-interest-you-that-just-as-the-u-s-was-ramping-up-its/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Tell her that you love her hair, that you love her skin, her lips, because, in truth, you love them more than you love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/tell-her-that-you-love-her-hair-that-you-love-her-skin-her-lips/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [It took me sixteen years to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-took-me-sixteen-years-to-write/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [You ask everybody you know: How long does it usually take to get over it? There are many formulas. One year for every year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-ask-everybody-you-know-how-long-does-it-usually-take-to-get-over/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [Instead of finding himself in nerd heaven—where every nerd gets fifty-eight virgins to role-play with—he woke up in Robert Wood Johnson with two broken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/instead-of-finding-himself-in-nerd-heaven-where-every-nerd-gets-fifty/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [The one thing about being a dude and writing from a female perspective is that the baseline is, you suck. 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The way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-ve-always-thought-that-you-don-t-love-a-country-by-turning-a-blind/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Called her a whore and attacked her walls, tearing down her posters and throwing her books everywhere. I found out because some whitegirl ran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/called-her-a-whore-and-attacked-her-walls-tearing-down-her-posters/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [You're Dominican only if you do this, this, and that. And if you do this and that, you'll be accepted to a certain degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/you-re-dominican-only-if-you-do-this-this-and-that-and-if-you-do-this/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“Ramfis fled the country after Trujillo's death, lived dissolutely off his father's swag, and ended up dying in a car crash of his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/ramfis-fled-the-country-after-trujillo-s-death-lived-dissolutely-off/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [If you didn't grow up like I did then you don't know, and if you don't know it's probably better you don't judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-didn-t-grow-up-like-i-did-then-you-don-t-know-and-if-you-don-t/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [“If you ask me I don't think there are any such things as curses. I think there is only life. That's enough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/if-you-ask-me-i-don-t-think-there-are-any-such-things-as-curses-i/) [Junot Díaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [The only difference between a published and unpublished writer is a tolerance for imperfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/the-only-difference-between-a-published-and-unpublished-writer-is-a/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) [Explore all 486 Junot Diaz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. 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There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I always think about myself as a writer; that comes out of being a reader first, and I don't think I kind of got to really playing with language in any formal way probably until I was in my mid-twenties.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Junot Diaz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer-that-comes-out-of-being-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer-that-comes-out-of-being-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/junot-diaz-531_books_i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer_2690420.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/junot-diaz-531_books_i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer_2690420.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/junot-diaz-531_books_i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer_2690420.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I always think about myself as a writer; that comes out of being a reader first, and I don't think I kind of…” — Junot Diaz", "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": "Junot Diaz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I always think about myself as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer-that-comes-out-of-being-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-always-think-about-myself-as-a-writer-that-comes-out-of-being-a/#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 } } ] } ```