--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When writing isn't going well-then the…" description: "\"When writing isn't going well-then the bad thing about being a writer is that I also have the freedom and flexibility to do something badly, and no one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/margaret-haddix-27300_bad-thing_when-writing-isn-t-going-well-then-the-b_2262401.png" --- # When writing isn't going well-then the bad thing about… ![“When writing isn't going well-then the bad thing about being a writer is that I also have the freedom and flexibility to do something badly, and no one else can fix it for me.” quote by Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/margaret-haddix-27300_bad-thing_when-writing-isn-t-going-well-then-the-b_2262401.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/margaret-haddix-27300_bad-thing_when-writing-isn-t-going-well-then-the-b_2262401.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b86/margaret-haddix-27300_bad-thing_when-writing-isn-t-going-well-then-the-b_2262401.png) > “When writing isn't going well-then the bad thing about being a writer is that I also have the freedom and flexibility to do something badly, and no one else can fix it for me.” [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She notes that a writer’s freedom can be a curse: the ability to produce poor work that only the writer can fix. **In simple terms:** Writers can create bad work and must fix it themselves, which can be frustrating. Key Takeaway Accept responsibility for improving your own drafts. Themes creativity self‑discipline accountability freedom challenge Mood reflective pragmatic honest Type inspirational thoughtful When to use this quote - self‑editing - seeking peer feedback - setting deadlines - learning from mistakes Key Concepts authorial control editing process creative autonomy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance freedom with quality? - When should you seek external help? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flexibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flexibility/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [It's just so much fun to make up characters, situations, and everything else about a story. I have so much freedom and flexibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/it-s-just-so-much-fun-to-make-up-characters-situations-and-everything/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [Spontaneity, freedom and flexibility. These are some of the best things about being single. You don't have to care about what the other half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/spontaneity-freedom-and-flexibility-these-are-some-of-the-best-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Improvisation, freedom and flexibility. These are some of the best things about being single. You dont have to care about what the other half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/improvisation-freedom-and-flexibility-these-are-some-of-the-best/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [Your freedom as a writer is not freedom of expression in the sense of wild blurting; you may not let rip. It is life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/your-freedom-as-a-writer-is-not-freedom-of-expression-in-the-sense-of/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“there is a great deal at stake here, many writers fight this battle and most lose it. what is at stake for the writer?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dworkin/there-is-a-great-deal-at-stake-here-many-writers-fight-this-battle/) [Andrea Dworkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-dworkin/) > [Mobile devices have given us greater freedom and flexibility than ever before, while social platforms help us collaborate more effectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-philippe-courtois/mobile-devices-have-given-us-greater-freedom-and-flexibility-than/) [Jean-Philippe Courtois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-philippe-courtois/) > [I love working with the quartet. I have more freedom and flexibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boz-scaggs/i-love-working-with-the-quartet-i-have-more-freedom-and-flexibility/) [Boz Scaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boz-scaggs/) > [With a smaller setting, you have a lot more freedom and flexibility within a given moment, but not necessarily the velocity you have with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-elling/with-a-smaller-setting-you-have-a-lot-more-freedom-and-flexibility/) [Kurt Elling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-elling/) > [“I think... the most brilliant thing about being a writer,is that if you don't like the way the world is, you can create your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maegan-cook/i-think-the-most-brilliant-thing-about-being-a-writer-is-that-if-you/) Maegan Cook > [There is no such thing as writer's block for writers whose standards are low enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-stafford/there-is-no-such-thing-as-writer-s-block-for-writers-whose-standards/) [William Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-stafford/) > [That's the thing about the writer's life is that you have to have self-discipline. Otherwise you'll never get paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heisserer/that-s-the-thing-about-the-writer-s-life-is-that-you-have-to-have/) [Eric Heisserer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heisserer/) > [And life is a good thing for a writer. It's where we get our raw material, for a start. We quite like to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/and-life-is-a-good-thing-for-a-writer-it-s-where-we-get-our-raw/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [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/) > [Writing books takes a long time, and one thing a writer must do is learn to live with his or her project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bock/writing-books-takes-a-long-time-and-one-thing-a-writer-must-do-is/) [Charles Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bock/) > [The first thing a writer should be is - excited. He should be a thing of fevers and enthusiasms. Without such vigor, he might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-first-thing-a-writer-should-be-is-excited-he-should-be-a-thing-of/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## More by Margaret Haddix > [I started trying to write when I was in second or third grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/i-started-trying-to-write-when-i-was-in-second-or-third-grade/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [After I've sent my revised draft to my agent and editor, they suggest more improvement sand again, this revision phase can take anywhere from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/after-i-ve-sent-my-revised-draft-to-my-agent-and-editor-they-suggest/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [I write a book over a period of months or years, and when I'm done with it, usually another year goes by before I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/i-write-a-book-over-a-period-of-months-or-years-and-when-i-m-done/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [Eventually the bad stuff I'm writing turns into better stuff. Other times, I've just walked away from what I was working on, and figured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/eventually-the-bad-stuff-i-m-writing-turns-into-better-stuff-other/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [Sometimes I can spend as long revising a manuscript as I spent writing it in the first place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/sometimes-i-can-spend-as-long-revising-a-manuscript-as-i-spent/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [I loved to read when I was a kid, and as soon as I realized that an actual person got to make up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/i-loved-to-read-when-i-was-a-kid-and-as-soon-as-i-realized-that-an/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [The deadlines are much, much longer with books. When I was a reporter, a lot of times I'd come in at 8:30 a.m., get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/the-deadlines-are-much-much-longer-with-books-when-i-was-a-reporter-a/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [He looked at the piles of food again, and it was like he was seeing it with new eyes. This is wrong, he thought.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/he-looked-at-the-piles-of-food-again-and-it-was-like-he-was-seeing-it-2/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [I like the fact that kids are willing to be imaginative and go along with me when I'm telling strange tales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/i-like-the-fact-that-kids-are-willing-to-be-imaginative-and-go-along/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [It's just so much fun to make up characters, situations, and everything else about a story. I have so much freedom and flexibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/it-s-just-so-much-fun-to-make-up-characters-situations-and-everything/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > ["Don't let go!" he orders. Harper's hand is dry and soothing, while mine is sweaty with fear. We've never held hands before. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/don-t-let-go-he-orders-harper-s-hand-is-dry-and-soothing-while-mine/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [I was lucky enough not to face any required summer reading lists until I went to college. So I still think of summer as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/i-was-lucky-enough-not-to-face-any-required-summer-reading-lists/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [I like playing around with the words; I love it when I feel like I've picked the exact right word to describe whatever it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/i-like-playing-around-with-the-words-i-love-it-when-i-feel-like-i-ve/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [Generally I finish a first draft in 2-6 months, then I set it aside for a while so that when I come back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/generally-i-finish-a-first-draft-in-2-6-months-then-i-set-it-aside/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) > [There's something about each of my books that I'm really proud of, and there's something about each of my books that I cringe over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-haddix/there-s-something-about-each-of-my-books-that-i-m-really-proud-of-and/) [Margaret Haddix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) [Explore all 20 Margaret Haddix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-haddix/) ## More Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. 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I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. 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