--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't want to write unless I could…" description: "\"I didn't want to write unless I could say, and think for myself. I looked to peers that I not only respected but those that supported that. I finished ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/karen-walton-44008_arms_i-didn-t-want-to-write-unless-i-could-sa_2157451.jpg" --- # I didn't want to write unless I could say, and think for… ![“I didn't want to write unless I could say, and think for myself. I looked to peers that I not only respected but those that supported that. I finished becoming who I am today by sticking up for myself as a voice, but that is in part thanks to the huge role the good guys I chose to work with played…” quote by Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/karen-walton-44008_arms_i-didn-t-want-to-write-unless-i-could-sa_2157451.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/karen-walton-44008_arms_i-didn-t-want-to-write-unless-i-could-sa_2157451.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f78/karen-walton-44008_arms_i-didn-t-want-to-write-unless-i-could-sa_2157451.jpg) > “I didn't want to write unless I could say, and think for myself. I looked to peers that I not only respected but those that supported that. I finished becoming who I am today by sticking up for myself as a voice, but that is in part thanks to the huge role the good guys I chose to work with played in my professional development. Some really terrific human beings who loved horror welcomed me with open arms.” [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author emphasizes the importance of independent thought and supportive peers in personal and professional growth. **In simple terms:** Independent thought and supportive peers foster growth. Key Takeaway Seek mentors and trust your voice. Themes self‑development mentorship creativity professional growth Mood grateful determined Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - writing career - team projects - creative collaborations - career mentorship Key Concepts independence collaboration confidence Questions to Reflect On - Who inspires you to think independently? - How do you balance self‑reliance with collaboration? A Different Perspective Reliance on others can limit personal agency if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Good guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guy/) [Good guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guys/) [Horror](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horror/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Open arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-arms/) [Professional development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-development/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [Who i am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-i-am/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [We''d like to be welcomed with open arms and open legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-biersack/we-d-like-to-be-welcomed-with-open-arms-and-open-legs/) [Andy Biersack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-biersack/) > [The industry has welcomed me with open arms. It is not possible for anyone to make a playback singing career like mine in 7 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jubin-nautiyal/the-industry-has-welcomed-me-with-open-arms-it-is-not-possible-for/) [Jubin Nautiyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jubin-nautiyal/) > [I don't know what it is, but St. Louis has always welcomed us with open arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-millard/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-but-st-louis-has-always-welcomed-us-with-open/) [Bart Millard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-millard/) > [Whoever I met in the industry welcomed me with open arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meera-chopra/whoever-i-met-in-the-industry-welcomed-me-with-open-arms/) [Meera Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meera-chopra/) > [I spent three-and-a-half years in Japan, and I was a foreigner, and I was welcomed with open arms over there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/i-spent-three-and-a-half-years-in-japan-and-i-was-a-foreigner-and-i/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) > [What was it like...to have someone who knew you would always return and who welcomed you with open arms?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-dicamillo/what-was-it-like-to-have-someone-who-knew-you-would-always-return-and/) [Kate DiCamillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-dicamillo/) > [The fashion industry really welcomed me with open arms and open hearts. They've been very accepting of my faith. I have strict wardrobe requirements,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halima-aden/the-fashion-industry-really-welcomed-me-with-open-arms-and-open/) [Halima Aden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halima-aden/) > [Everyone in the industry really sort of welcomed us with open arms - at least the people we've come across so far and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-halpern/everyone-in-the-industry-really-sort-of-welcomed-us-with-open-arms-at/) [Tucker Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-halpern/) > [I'm fortunate that Newcastle and the fans welcomed me with open arms because I know it's not easy being a former Sunderland player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deandre-yedlin/i-m-fortunate-that-newcastle-and-the-fans-welcomed-me-with-open-arms/) [DeAndre Yedlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deandre-yedlin/) > [You know, the fans, the city have embraced me. The Jazz culture and family have welcomed me with open arms. Any time you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hill/you-know-the-fans-the-city-have-embraced-me-the-jazz-culture-and/) [George Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hill/) > [“applicants to the fellowship of drinks geekery are welcomed with open arms and flowing bottles.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mcdowell/applicants-to-the-fellowship-of-drinks-geekery-are-welcomed-with-open/) Adam McDowell > [I actually thought I was casting for a very small role, maybe a cameo role. I wasnt really sure what it was and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-huntington-whiteley-2/i-actually-thought-i-was-casting-for-a-very-small-role-maybe-a-cameo/) [Rosie Huntington Whiteley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-huntington-whiteley-2/) > [My mom, my dad are two huge role models of mine because of the way they've obviously carried themselves, the things that they've had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/my-mom-my-dad-are-two-huge-role-models-of-mine-because-of-the-way/) [Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/) > [I think that Silicon Valley and technology can play a huge role in redefining what community looks like and how people come together and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deray-mckesson/i-think-that-silicon-valley-and-technology-can-play-a-huge-role-in/) [DeRay Mckesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deray-mckesson/) > [My mum and my dad are two huge role models of mine because of the way they've obviously carried themselves, the things that they've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/my-mum-and-my-dad-are-two-huge-role-models-of-mine-because-of-the-way/) [Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/) ## More by Karen Walton > [To try something longer, I entered a half-hour radio drama contest with the national public broadcaster, CBC. To my surprise, I won. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/to-try-something-longer-i-entered-a-half-hour-radio-drama-contest/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) > [The summer gig turned into my day job. I was an arts administrator who helped make indie flicks. At the filmmakers' encouragement, I tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/the-summer-gig-turned-into-my-day-job-i-was-an-arts-administrator-who/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) > [Fear Teaches Us A Lot About Ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/fear-teaches-us-a-lot-about-ourselves/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) > [Filmmaking and television series are team sports. Look for the best team for you. Plan, budget your time, money and spirit. You need all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/filmmaking-and-television-series-are-team-sports-look-for-the-best/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) > [I have an Honors Degree in Drama from the University of Alberta, but when it was done I knew a life in modern theatre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/i-have-an-honors-degree-in-drama-from-the-university-of-alberta-but/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) > [I'd never imagined myself writing at all until I was almost 30. And horror films weren't to my taste, at least the super popular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/i-d-never-imagined-myself-writing-at-all-until-i-was-almost-30-and/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) > [Beware of advice. Consider your sources carefully. Look them up. See if you respect what they've made. Get educated. Be informed about who's real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/beware-of-advice-consider-your-sources-carefully-look-them-up-see-if/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) > [Somebody told me I should try writing. Actually, a lot of people tried to get me to try writing, long before I thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-walton/somebody-told-me-i-should-try-writing-actually-a-lot-of-people-tried/) [Karen Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) [Explore all 9 Karen Walton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-walton/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I didn't want to write unless I could say, and think for myself. I looked to peers that I not only respected but those that supported that. I finished becoming who I am today by sticking up for myself as a voice, but that is in part thanks to the huge role the good guys I chose to work with played in my professional development. 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