--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been a writer since I was 16. I…" description: "\"I've been a writer since I was 16. I didn't get published until I was 24. I know that sounds crazy.\" — Markus Zusak" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/markus-zusak-165_crazy_i-ve-been-a-writer-since-i-was-16-i-didn_1784924.png" --- # I've been a writer since I was 16. I didn't get published… ![“I've been a writer since I was 16. I didn't get published until I was 24. I know that sounds crazy.” quote by Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/markus-zusak-165_crazy_i-ve-been-a-writer-since-i-was-16-i-didn_1784924.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/markus-zusak-165_crazy_i-ve-been-a-writer-since-i-was-16-i-didn_1784924.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0db/markus-zusak-165_crazy_i-ve-been-a-writer-since-i-was-16-i-didn_1784924.png) > “I've been a writer since I was 16. I didn't get published until I was 24. I know that sounds crazy.” [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing early but publishing late shows persistence and growth are essential for success. **In simple terms:** Early writing needs patience to be published. Key Takeaway Keep writing and improving. Themes writing patience growth Mood reflective inspired Type literary motivational When to use this quote - school assignments - first manuscript - rejection letters - literary contests Key Concepts creative development literary career Questions to Reflect On - What kept you motivated? - How did you improve your craft? A Different Perspective Success may require external opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Didn Published](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-published-1636646/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Published](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published/) [Published 24](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/published-24-1893841/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Ve Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-writer-527567/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writer 16](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer-16-1893840/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I've had a lot of books rejected in my time. My first novel, which didn't get published, was, with hindsight, crashingly dull.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fielding/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-books-rejected-in-my-time-my-first-novel-which-didn/) [Helen Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fielding/) > [I've always been a writer, actually. Not many people assume that, but I kinda keep quiet about anything that I do until I'm ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-guzman/i-ve-always-been-a-writer-actually-not-many-people-assume-that-but-i/) [Ryan Guzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-guzman/) > [I've been a writer my whole life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-ve-been-a-writer-my-whole-life/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [I've always been a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-coyote/i-ve-always-been-a-writer/) [Peter Coyote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-coyote/) > [I've been a writer my whole life. I've just never pursued a career in it since I graduated college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-ve-been-a-writer-my-whole-life-i-ve-just-never-pursued-a-career-in/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) > [I've been a writer since I was a kid. I've been a writer since I was, you know, dictating stories into a tape deck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-ve-been-a-writer-since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-been-a-writer-since-i-was/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I've been a writer for 42 years and, yes, it is a full time job for me. Not a hobby, but serious work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-mckay/i-ve-been-a-writer-for-42-years-and-yes-it-is-a-full-time-job-for-me/) [Donald McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-mckay/) > [I've never had writer's block.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-ve-never-had-writer-s-block/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [I've never had a writer, and I'm proud of that. Everything I've per­formed has been from my own head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-ve-never-had-a-writer-and-i-m-proud-of-that-everything-i-ve-per/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I've never been in a writer's room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-ve-never-been-in-a-writer-s-room/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [Having a voice unlike another means you've "found yourself" as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-klein/having-a-voice-unlike-another-means-you-ve-found-yourself-as-a-writer/) [Lee Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-klein/) > [I've always been a writer because I've always been a student. My mom's a retired professor, so I come from a very academic background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/i-ve-always-been-a-writer-because-i-ve-always-been-a-student-my-mom-s/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [I've always been a writer and have always loved writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/i-ve-always-been-a-writer-and-have-always-loved-writing/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [“There's a word for an author who doesn't give up... published.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-a-word-for-an-author-who-doesn-t-give-up-published/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I could give you some names of Workshop participants who are as good as many who are being published but haven't had the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gunn/i-could-give-you-some-names-of-workshop-participants-who-are-as-good/) [James Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gunn/) ## More by Markus Zusak > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I think that as a writer your responsibility is to search for and stir up the things that are in this world. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-think-that-as-a-writer-your-responsibility-is-to-search-for-and/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“For two days I went about my business. I travelled the globe as always, handing souls to the conveyor belt of eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/for-two-days-i-went-about-my-business-i-travelled-the-globe-as-always/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [It is early, early morning. It's that time when it's still dark but you know the day is coming. Blue is bleeding through black.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/it-is-early-early-morning-it-s-that-time-when-it-s-still-dark-but-you/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I'm twenty years old and look at me-- there isn't a thing I want to do”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-m-twenty-years-old-and-look-at-me-there-isn-t-a-thing-i-want-to-do/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [You should give it to Max, Liesel. See if you can leave it on the bedside table, like all the other things." Liesel watched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/you-should-give-it-to-max-liesel-see-if-you-can-leave-it-on-the/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“When a woman with an iron fist tells you to get out there and clean spit off the door, you do it. Especially when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/when-a-woman-with-an-iron-fist-tells-you-to-get-out-there-and-clean/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Is there cowardice with the acknowledgement of fear?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/is-there-cowardice-with-the-acknowledgement-of-fear/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [In years to come, he would be a giver of bread, not a stealer - proof again of the contradictory human being. So much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/in-years-to-come-he-would-be-a-giver-of-bread-not-a-stealer-proof/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“«¿Por qué no puede oírlo el resto del mundo? —me pregunto. En pocos segundos me lo pregunto muchas veces—. Porque no le importa —me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/por-qu-no-puede-o-rlo-el-resto-del-mundo-me-pregunto-en-pocos/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Could she smell my breath? Could she hear my cursed circular heart beat revolving like the crime it is in my deathly chest?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/could-she-smell-my-breath-could-she-hear-my-cursed-circular-heart/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I see how complicated it is to make a film and how many people are involved and I love the fact that I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-see-how-complicated-it-is-to-make-a-film-and-how-many-people-are/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [One wild card was yet to be played.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/one-wild-card-was-yet-to-be-played/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“Može li netko ukrasti sreću? Ili je i to još jedan unutarnji, paklenski ljudski trik?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/mo-e-li-netko-ukrasti-sre-u-ili-je-i-to-jo-jedan-unutarnji-paklenski/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [I look at my first books and am glad they weren't published… You start writing by imitating your heroes, then you keep the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/i-look-at-my-first-books-and-am-glad-they-weren-t-published-you-start/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) [Explore all 953 Markus Zusak quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) ## More Crazy quotes > [Im wild Im crazy, I'm wild, Im crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-dot-curve/im-wild-im-crazy-i-m-wild-im-crazy/) [Dot Dot Curve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-dot-curve/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I didn't understand Southland Tales script at all! Is there a single word to describe it? Cacophony? It's celebrity meets pornography meets politics -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-grant/i-didn-t-understand-southland-tales-script-at-all-is-there-a-single/) [Beth Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-grant/) > [What I do miss that I don't get anymore? You're going to think I'm crazy, but you want the truth, so here it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mandrell/what-i-do-miss-that-i-don-t-get-anymore-you-re-going-to-think-i-m/) [Barbara Mandrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mandrell/) > [The Beat Generation, that was a vision that we had, John Clellon Holmes and I, and Allen Ginsberg in an even wilder way, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/the-beat-generation-that-was-a-vision-that-we-had-john-clellon-holmes/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [It's a great story for us whenever an entrepreneur makes a crazy amount of money and we get to tell the world about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-lacy/it-s-a-great-story-for-us-whenever-an-entrepreneur-makes-a-crazy/) [Sarah Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-lacy/) > [Your aunt and uncle will be proud, though, won't they?" said Hermione as they got off the train and joined the crowd thronging toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-aunt-and-uncle-will-be-proud-though-won-t-they-said-hermione-as/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/) [Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. 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It's because I'm crazy about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-m-always-writing-i-m-an-obsessive-it-s-not-because-i-m-a/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) [Browse all 9,039 Crazy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've been a writer since I was 16. I didn't get published until I was 24. 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