--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing, directing - it's just torture…" description: "\"Writing, directing - it's just torture every time and it doesn't seem to get any easier. And yet I love them and I'm not going to stop doing them.\" — M..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/marielle-heller-7174_directing_writing-directing-it-s-just-torture-ever_2345260.jpg" --- # Writing, directing - it's just torture every time and it… ![“Writing, directing - it's just torture every time and it doesn't seem to get any easier. And yet I love them and I'm not going to stop doing them.” quote by Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/marielle-heller-7174_directing_writing-directing-it-s-just-torture-ever_2345260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/marielle-heller-7174_directing_writing-directing-it-s-just-torture-ever_2345260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a2/marielle-heller-7174_directing_writing-directing-it-s-just-torture-ever_2345260.jpg) > “Writing, directing - it's just torture every time and it doesn't seem to get any easier. And yet I love them and I'm not going to stop doing them.” [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work can feel painful yet addictive, driving persistence despite hardship. **In simple terms:** Creative work is painful but addictive. Key Takeaway Embrace the struggle, keep creating. Themes creativity pain persistence Mood determined reflective Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - film making - writing - directing - personal projects Key Concepts artistic drive psychology of work Questions to Reflect On - What makes the pain worthwhile? - How do you balance love and suffering? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize suffering, ignoring burnout risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) [Directing Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing-just-1972396/) [I love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-love/) [Just Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-torture-5689676/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Torture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torture/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Directing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-directing/) ## Related quotes > [Writing and directing just sort of fell into my lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/writing-and-directing-just-sort-of-fell-into-my-lap/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I wanted to express myself more fully through writing and directing. It just feels like a package deal. Anytime you create anything, you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-donovan/i-wanted-to-express-myself-more-fully-through-writing-and-directing/) [Martin Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-donovan/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [“Sometimes, I think I have made you up just to torture myself—and there are other times that I know you must be real because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-a-bartol/sometimes-i-think-i-have-made-you-up-just-to-torture-myself-and-there/) [Amy A. Bartol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-a-bartol/) > [The prospect of being able to work on a Kaufman film with him directing was just too good to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-wood/the-prospect-of-being-able-to-work-on-a-kaufman-film-with-him/) [Elijah Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elijah-wood/) > [I would love to start directing. I just hope to find the right thing and, if I was afforded the opportunity, I think it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-peck/i-would-love-to-start-directing-i-just-hope-to-find-the-right-thing/) [Josh Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-peck/) > [In a lot of movies, honestly, the directors don't talk to you that much. Maybe they say, "Faster, slower," whatever. Sometimes they give you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-turturro/in-a-lot-of-movies-honestly-the-directors-don-t-talk-to-you-that-much/) [John Turturro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-turturro/) > [The things I want to focus on are music, writing, directing, and developing stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/the-things-i-want-to-focus-on-are-music-writing-directing-and/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [ All these teachers and \[screenwriting\] books mean you see movies that have been worked over by more committees wielding more rules, that all originality… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-schrader/all-these-teachers-and-screenwriting-books-mean-you-see-movies-that/) [Paul Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-schrader/) > [I'm going to be writing and directing my own videos, and performing in them too, and I'm super-excited about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-day/i-m-going-to-be-writing-and-directing-my-own-videos-and-performing-in/) [Mikey Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-day/) > [Acting is the most pure fun as far as jobs go, but it can be limiting in terms of freedom of expression. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/acting-is-the-most-pure-fun-as-far-as-jobs-go-but-it-can-be-limiting/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [I think I'll always want to write and direct. I'm interested in producing and helping other people tell stories. But I'm still in love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-carruth/i-think-i-ll-always-want-to-write-and-direct-i-m-interested-in/) [Shane Carruth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-carruth/) > [I was a standup comedian, which is kind of like writing and directing yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/i-was-a-standup-comedian-which-is-kind-of-like-writing-and-directing/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I certainly was an actor and then I drifted more towards writing and directing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/i-certainly-was-an-actor-and-then-i-drifted-more-towards-writing-and/) [Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/) > [I went to film school so I have a writing and directing background, and I think a lot of the material I'm interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-mcbride/i-went-to-film-school-so-i-have-a-writing-and-directing-background/) [Danny McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-mcbride/) ## More by Marielle Heller > [I think there used to be more respect toward young people in movies. John Hughes really respects his characters and they're given their emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-think-there-used-to-be-more-respect-toward-young-people-in-movies/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I remember my grandmother's husband dying. But I think I was older. I think I was 7 or 8 when he died. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-remember-my-grandmother-s-husband-dying-but-i-think-i-was-older-i/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [My normal way of filming something is, like, one camera, very well planned out, knowing exactly how we're going to get each shot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/my-normal-way-of-filming-something-is-like-one-camera-very-well/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I like working in TV, but my real love is making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-like-working-in-tv-but-my-real-love-is-making-movies/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [You live in an apartment in New York, and you think all the time about like, 'I don't even know who's living above me.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/you-live-in-an-apartment-in-new-york-and-you-think-all-the-time-about/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I spent most of my 20s working as an actor. I started writing and directing because I was frustrated with the types of roles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-spent-most-of-my-20s-working-as-an-actor-i-started-writing-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I'm getting more and more used to the fact that being a director and being a woman are two things that everyone wants to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-m-getting-more-and-more-used-to-the-fact-that-being-a-director-and/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I don't really believe that all theater needs to be filmed - for some things, the special part of live theater is that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-don-t-really-believe-that-all-theater-needs-to-be-filmed-for-some/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I do think there's probably a little more opportunity to direct in television, because there are just so many TV shows. In movies, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-do-think-there-s-probably-a-little-more-opportunity-to-direct-in/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [One of the boring tricks about capturing Broadway onscreen, actually, is just about all the different unions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/one-of-the-boring-tricks-about-capturing-broadway-onscreen-actually/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [Why do so many women drop out of the workforce at this age, in our late 30s, early 40s? Well, often it's because we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/why-do-so-many-women-drop-out-of-the-workforce-at-this-age-in-our/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I just have no interest in making a biopic. No offence to biopics, it's just not where my mind goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-just-have-no-interest-in-making-a-biopic-no-offence-to-biopics-it-s/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [As women we are very accustomed to putting ourselves in the shoes of male leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/as-women-we-are-very-accustomed-to-putting-ourselves-in-the-shoes-of/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I remember the first time somebody classified me as a feminist. I was in fourth grade. And I remember thinking, 'Oh, is that what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/i-remember-the-first-time-somebody-classified-me-as-a-feminist-i-was/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [Just make things, and find people you love working with. If you're working on something you truly love and are passionate about, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/just-make-things-and-find-people-you-love-working-with-if-you-re/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) [Explore all 94 Marielle Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) ## More Directing quotes > [Anybody can direct a picture once they know the fundamentals. Directing is not a mystery, it's not an art. The main thing about directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ford/anybody-can-direct-a-picture-once-they-know-the-fundamentals/) [John Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ford/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [That's what I learned most about directing on my own - you've got to build a family, a filmmaking family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/that-s-what-i-learned-most-about-directing-on-my-own-you-ve-got-to/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [I took on the role of CEO, which involves directing the Management Team and overall day-to-day operations of 500.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-tsai/i-took-on-the-role-of-ceo-which-involves-directing-the-management/) [Christine Tsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-tsai/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [When I see my movies on the editing table, I do think I could have done them a certain way. The satisfaction is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/when-i-see-my-movies-on-the-editing-table-i-do-think-i-could-have/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [For me the dream is the freedom to make all the crazy ideas I have in my head into movies. I truly love directing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-ozeki/for-me-the-dream-is-the-freedom-to-make-all-the-crazy-ideas-i-have-in/) [Nicholas Ozeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-ozeki/) > [The producing thing has come quite naturally to me. I feel like for directing, I would like to be more technically-savvy. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/the-producing-thing-has-come-quite-naturally-to-me-i-feel-like-for/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I'm addicted to directing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-m-addicted-to-directing/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) > [Making a movie and not directing the little moments is like drinking a soda and leaving the little slurp puddle for someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/making-a-movie-and-not-directing-the-little-moments-is-like-drinking/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [Directing films is easier said than done. The job needs a lot of sensibility to put many things in place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/directing-films-is-easier-said-than-done-the-job-needs-a-lot-of/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I starred in a Broadway play that was Sidney Poitier's first directing job and the cast was Lou Gossett, Cicely Tyson, Diana Ladd and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steinberg/i-starred-in-a-broadway-play-that-was-sidney-poitier-s-first/) [David Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steinberg/) > [I don't get nervous when I'm directing a play. It's not like acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/i-don-t-get-nervous-when-i-m-directing-a-play-it-s-not-like-acting/) [Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/) > [My dad's a prominent theatre director in Toronto, so I grew up in that world, directing and producing theater since I was a teenager.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gass-donnelly/my-dad-s-a-prominent-theatre-director-in-toronto-so-i-grew-up-in-that/) [Ed Gass-Donnelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gass-donnelly/) > [The hardest part about directing is getting everyone on the same page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/the-hardest-part-about-directing-is-getting-everyone-on-the-same-page/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) [Browse all 1,163 Directing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/directing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Writing, directing - it's just torture every time and it doesn't seem to get any easier. 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