--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I began writing seriously in my mid-20s…" description: "\"I began writing seriously in my mid-20s and didn't publish my first book until I was 41.\" — Kent Haruf" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/kent-haruf-18766_began_i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s_51467.jpg" --- # I began writing seriously in my mid-20s and didn't publish… ![“I began writing seriously in my mid-20s and didn't publish my first book until I was 41.” quote by Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/kent-haruf-18766_began_i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s_51467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/kent-haruf-18766_began_i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s_51467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/kent-haruf-18766_began_i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s_51467.jpg) > “I began writing seriously in my mid-20s and didn't publish my first book until I was 41.” [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) ## 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 started a disciplined writing practice in his twenties, but it took many years of effort before his first book was accepted for publication, highlighting the long, often delayed, path to literary success. **In simple terms:** Persistence yields eventual recognition. Key Takeaway Patience and sustained effort are essential for creative breakthroughs. Themes Perseverance Creative development Career trajectory Delayed gratification Mood Hopeful Reflective Determined Type Personal anecdote Motivational When to use this quote - Early-career writer seeking validation - Midlife career shift - Long-term creative projects - Authors facing rejection - Late bloomers in any field Key Concepts Writing discipline Publication timeline Age and achievement Practical Applications - Mentoring aspiring writers - Designing writing workshops that set realistic timelines Questions to Reflect On - What does this suggest about the relationship between age and creative output? - How can writers maintain motivation during long periods without external success? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I began writing seriously in my mid-20s and didnt publish my first book until I was 41.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s-and-didnt-publish-my-first/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [It never occurred to me when I was young that I could be an author. That would be like saying, "I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/it-never-occurred-to-me-when-i-was-young-that-i-could-be-an-author/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [As far as the world was concerned, from 1979 to 1996, I didn't publish any original material; it just wasn't there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-garner/as-far-as-the-world-was-concerned-from-1979-to-1996-i-didn-t-publish/) [Alan Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-garner/) > [If you're going to publish a book, you probably are going to make a fool of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/if-you-re-going-to-publish-a-book-you-probably-are-going-to-make-a/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [I learned how difficult it is to self-publish a book. It's complex, it's confusing, it's idiosyncratic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/i-learned-how-difficult-it-is-to-self-publish-a-book-it-s-complex-it/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [ You can publish a poem you think is a very important poem, and you don't hear a word from anyone. \[...\] You can publish… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/you-can-publish-a-poem-you-think-is-a-very-important-poem-and-you-don/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [Three publishers came to me at the White House after George lost and said, 'We would like to publish your book.' I said, 'Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-bush/three-publishers-came-to-me-at-the-white-house-after-george-lost-and/) [Barbara Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-bush/) > [I was a book editor for nine years. I'm familiar with the opposite experience, bracing myself for the likelihood that no one would want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/i-was-a-book-editor-for-nine-years-i-m-familiar-with-the-opposite/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [But once you publish a book, doesn’t it by definition become the realm of public discourse? Otherwise, wouldn’t we just write books and print…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-evison/but-once-you-publish-a-book-doesn-t-it-by-definition-become-the-realm/) [Jonathan Evison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-evison/) > [It takes a long time to publish a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-koch/it-takes-a-long-time-to-publish-a-book/) [Kenneth Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-koch/) > [After you publish a book, you become a writer and you're supposed to take it very seriously. You're supposed to show up at your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/after-you-publish-a-book-you-become-a-writer-and-you-re-supposed-to/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [Just because everyone CAN publish a book these days, doesn't mean everyone SHOULD. The world doesn't need 1000 knock-offs of 50 Shades of Grey.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-gaspirtz/just-because-everyone-can-publish-a-book-these-days-doesn-t-mean/) [Oliver Gaspirtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-gaspirtz/) > [When you publish a book, you do so in part to end the silence. All censorship is silence. I would never, as an author,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/when-you-publish-a-book-you-do-so-in-part-to-end-the-silence-all/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [Nothing is a matter of age. It's really in the person because you can publish book after book after book and still want that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-tillman/nothing-is-a-matter-of-age-it-s-really-in-the-person-because-you-can/) [Lynne Tillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-tillman/) > [Once you publish a book, it is out of your control. You cannot dictate how people read it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/once-you-publish-a-book-it-is-out-of-your-control-you-cannot-dictate/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) ## More by Kent Haruf > [“quit trying to fix things and we settled into our long polite and quiet life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/quit-trying-to-fix-things-and-we-settled-into-our-long-polite-and/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [“You understand? If you can read you can cook. You can always feed yourselves. You remember that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/you-understand-if-you-can-read-you-can-cook-you-can-always-feed/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [“The precious ordinary. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/the-precious-ordinary-i/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [I enjoy bluegrass, folk, gospel, and classical. I don't listen to music when I write. I sometimes listen to music just before I sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/i-enjoy-bluegrass-folk-gospel-and-classical-i-don-t-listen-to-music/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [We'd do better to follow the admonition of Jesus about loving our neighbours. People in the U.S. are capable of forgiveness and willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/we-d-do-better-to-follow-the-admonition-of-jesus-about-loving-our/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [Writers who aren't from rural states in the Midwest or the West often treat such people as if they were the Waltons or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/writers-who-aren-t-from-rural-states-in-the-midwest-or-the-west-often/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [My desire is to be anonymous, isolated, quiet, peaceful, and concentrated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/my-desire-is-to-be-anonymous-isolated-quiet-peaceful-and-concentrated/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [“Alene looked out toward the fading sky. There was only a little light remaining. It would turn nighttime now and soon they would return…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/alene-looked-out-toward-the-fading-sky-there-was-only-a-little-light/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [“And so we know the satisfaction of hate. We know the sweet joy of revenge. How it feels good to get even. Oh, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/and-so-we-know-the-satisfaction-of-hate-we-know-the-sweet-joy-of/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [In terms of showing their emotions and acting on them, my women characters are a lot more advanced than the men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/in-terms-of-showing-their-emotions-and-acting-on-them-my-women/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [That was on a night in August. Dad Lewis died early that morning and the young girl Alice from next door got lost in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/that-was-on-a-night-in-august-dad-lewis-died-early-that-morning-and/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [“The evening wasn’t cold yet... But the air was turning sharp, with a fall feeling of loneliness coming. Something unaccountable pending in the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/the-evening-wasn-t-cold-yet-but-the-air-was-turning-sharp-with-a-fall/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [After finishing the first draft, I work for as long as it takes (for two or three weeks, most often) to rework that first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/after-finishing-the-first-draft-i-work-for-as-long-as-it-takes-for/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [I write in a journal first, briefly. Then read something I've read many times before, for about half an hour, then rework what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/i-write-in-a-journal-first-briefly-then-read-something-i-ve-read-many/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [You have to believe in yourself despite the evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/you-have-to-believe-in-yourself-despite-the-evidence/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) [Explore all 34 Kent Haruf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) ## More Began quotes > [When I was 13, I began relaxing my hair, and that meant when I turned 18 it began to crack and fall off, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soledad-o-brien/when-i-was-13-i-began-relaxing-my-hair-and-that-meant-when-i-turned/) [Soledad O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soledad-o-brien/) > [We began intercepting Japanese radio transmissions, which indicated the two forces were very close to each other. 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My life began when I met you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-eckrich/i-m-not-giving-up-my-life-my-life-began-when-i-met-you/) Shannon Eckrich > [I was precocious, so I began reading 'Cosmo' when I was 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-coles/i-was-precocious-so-i-began-reading-cosmo-when-i-was-12/) [Joanna Coles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-coles/) > [When the 2008 victory of Barack Obama and the defeat of grumpy old John McCain began looking, um, inevitable, I started fielding inquiries about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/when-the-2008-victory-of-barack-obama-and-the-defeat-of-grumpy-old/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) > [I was a photographer. 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America began to think of itself in a very different way - I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perlstein/watergate-got-us-to-think-of-leaders-as-mere-mortals-america-began-to/) [Rick Perlstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perlstein/) Browse all 658 Began quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I began writing seriously in my mid-20s and didn't publish my first book until I was 41.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kent Haruf" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s-and-didn-t-publish-my-first/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Began" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s-and-didn-t-publish-my-first/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/kent-haruf-18766_began_i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s_51467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/kent-haruf-18766_began_i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s_51467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41b/kent-haruf-18766_began_i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s_51467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I began writing seriously in my mid-20s and didn't publish my first book until I was 41.” — Kent Haruf", "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": "Kent Haruf", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I began writing seriously in my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s-and-didn-t-publish-my-first/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/i-began-writing-seriously-in-my-mid-20s-and-didn-t-publish-my-first/#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 } } ] } ```