--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't remember who said it - I think it…" description: "\"I can't remember who said it - I think it was Allan Gurganus when he was visiting the Michener Center - but he told us to \"spend [our] gold,\" meaning, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/mary-j-miller-21370_gold_i-can-t-remember-who-said-it-i-think-it_2281135.jpg" --- # I can't remember who said it - I think it was Allan… ![“I can't remember who said it - I think it was Allan Gurganus when he was visiting the Michener Center - but he told us to "spend [our] gold," meaning, put everything you have into a story. Other "gold" will be waiting for you for your next project.” quote by Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/mary-j-miller-21370_gold_i-can-t-remember-who-said-it-i-think-it_2281135.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/mary-j-miller-21370_gold_i-can-t-remember-who-said-it-i-think-it_2281135.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/mary-j-miller-21370_gold_i-can-t-remember-who-said-it-i-think-it_2281135.jpg) > “I can't remember who said it - I think it was Allan Gurganus when he was visiting the Michener Center - but he told us to "spend \[our\] gold," meaning, put everything you have into a story. Other "gold" will be waiting for you for your next project.” [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Invest fully in a story, treating it as precious as gold, while reserving resources for future projects. **In simple terms:** Give your story all you have, save some for later. Key Takeaway Commit fully now, plan for next work. Themes creativity investment project planning Mood inspirational practical Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - drafting a novel - screenwriting - research phases - budgeting Key Concepts resource allocation artistic focus Questions to Reflect On - What story deserves your full investment? - How do you balance current work with future plans? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if overcommitted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) [Gold Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-waiting-2168636/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Projects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/projects/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Spend Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-gold-3037751/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Story Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-gold-945400/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Told Spend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-spend-5324214/) [Visiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visiting/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) [Waiting for you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting-for-you/) ## Related quotes > [From the time I was growing up, if I felt that there was some, like, pot of gold waiting for me, I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anderson-cooper/from-the-time-i-was-growing-up-if-i-felt-that-there-was-some-like-pot/) [Anderson Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anderson-cooper/) > [“Ravana all your wealth is wasted, what's the use of being rich if you won't spend your gold to do good for other people?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-buck/ravana-all-your-wealth-is-wasted-what-s-the-use-of-being-rich-if-you/) [William Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-buck/) > [I told my how-I-got-discovered story. It's a great story. It's gold. I caught an attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-danza/i-told-my-how-i-got-discovered-story-it-s-a-great-story-it-s-gold-i/) [Tony Danza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-danza/) > [Maybe you'll come back, and because there are chances that you will, I am here waiting for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa/maybe-you-ll-come-back-and-because-there-are-chances-that-you-will-i/) [Israa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa/) > [If you have suffered the loss of a family member to chronic disease, if you suffer debilitating seasons of depression, if you have lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/if-you-have-suffered-the-loss-of-a-family-member-to-chronic-disease/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [A woman sitting by herself is not waiting for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-stasey/a-woman-sitting-by-herself-is-not-waiting-for-you/) [Caitlin Stasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-stasey/) > [You hide behind your feelings and keep the truth locked away, but there is so much said in the things you dont say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/you-hide-behind-your-feelings-and-keep-the-truth-locked-away-but/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) > [Here I am in a rabbit run, here I am in a valley of pine, waiting for you to find me. I could pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-siken/here-i-am-in-a-rabbit-run-here-i-am-in-a-valley-of-pine-waiting-for/) [Richard Siken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-siken/) > [Well, just remember--all your misery will be waiting for you at the door upon your exit, should you care to pick it up again…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/well-just-remember-all-your-misery-will-be-waiting-for-you-at-the/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I believe there is another world waiting for us. A better world. And I'll be waiting for you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/i-believe-there-is-another-world-waiting-for-us-a-better-world-and-i/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [What if the world is holding its breath - waiting for you to take the place that only you can fill?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/what-if-the-world-is-holding-its-breath-waiting-for-you-to-take-the/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [RIGHT HERE WAITING FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kas/right-here-waiting-for-you-and-only-you/) [KAS](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kas/) > [I will be like this forever.I am still standing where you left me waiting. Just you touch me and I will be alive once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/insane-insomniac/i-will-be-like-this-forever-i-am-still-standing-where-you-left-me/) [Insane & Insomniac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/insane-insomniac/) > [When you follow your bliss a kind of track opens up, that's always been there, waiting for you. And the life that you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-follow-your-bliss-a-kind-of-track-opens-up-that-s-always/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The desire to never leave your side, the desire to never see you again. The desire to see your face asleep on the pillow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/the-desire-to-never-leave-your-side-the-desire-to-never-see-you-again/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) ## More by Mary J. Miller > [I think training your instinct comes from writing and reading. There's no big secret. And reading slush helps, as well; I'd recommend everyone edit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-think-training-your-instinct-comes-from-writing-and-reading-there-s/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [It's something that's difficult to explain but I think all writers work this way to some extent, whether we're aware of it or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/it-s-something-that-s-difficult-to-explain-but-i-think-all-writers/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [There are many stories I've wanted to write that I'm simply not able to - sometimes I haven't found the way in yet, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/there-are-many-stories-i-ve-wanted-to-write-that-i-m-simply-not-able/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I've learned so much from my professors and have been fortunate to have had so many good ones, including Frederick and Steven Barthelme, Edward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-ve-learned-so-much-from-my-professors-and-have-been-fortunate-to/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I think there simply comes a point at which you're beating your head against the wall with revision, when you're making something different but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-think-there-simply-comes-a-point-at-which-you-re-beating-your-head/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I suppose this is, essentially, my perspective on life. Just because we've made mistakes and learned things from them intellectually doesn't mean we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-suppose-this-is-essentially-my-perspective-on-life-just-because-we/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I've learned a lot about language from reading slush. You can immediately tell if a writer is in control of the narrative. This writer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-ve-learned-a-lot-about-language-from-reading-slush-you-can/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I wish I knew exactly who I was. I was talking to a friend earlier about the advice people give each other, advice like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-wish-i-knew-exactly-who-i-was-i-was-talking-to-a-friend-earlier/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [It's definitely about the rhythm of the words and how they sound together, writing one sentence and then another and another and cutting something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/it-s-definitely-about-the-rhythm-of-the-words-and-how-they-sound/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I don't know what people want, really. Does somebody have to die? What is meant by resolution? These are questions that I don't quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-don-t-know-what-people-want-really-does-somebody-have-to-die-what/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [Making all of those words work together is difficult. It took a lot of cleaning up, a lot of rewriting scenes in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/making-all-of-those-words-work-together-is-difficult-it-took-a-lot-of/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I want to be able to discuss craft but I also want to teach writers to trust their instincts and learn to listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-want-to-be-able-to-discuss-craft-but-i-also-want-to-teach-writers/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [I don't revise a lot when writing short stories. As far as the novel, I definitely thought more about plot. Honestly, I'm still pretty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/i-don-t-revise-a-lot-when-writing-short-stories-as-far-as-the-novel-i/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [There's definitely a magical quality to writing that can't be explained. I can write something I love in two days, or I can work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/there-s-definitely-a-magical-quality-to-writing-that-can-t-be/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) > [A story works when there's momentum, life behind the words. Some stories have this and others don't, and it's difficult to say why this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-j-miller/a-story-works-when-there-s-momentum-life-behind-the-words-some/) [Mary J. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) [Explore all 29 Mary J. Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-j-miller/) ## More Gold quotes > [These joys were so trifling as to be as imperceptible as grains of gold among the sand, and in moments of depression she saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/these-joys-were-so-trifling-as-to-be-as-imperceptible-as-grains-of/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [With every product, the delta between the brand and the reality determines its power over the minds of consumers, and with Trump, that delta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/with-every-product-the-delta-between-the-brand-and-the-reality/) [Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/) > [Set the bird's wings with gold and it will never again soar in thesky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/set-the-bird-s-wings-with-gold-and-it-will-never-again-soar-in-thesky/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [A great smile is a wonderful asset, but a good heart is pure gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/a-great-smile-is-a-wonderful-asset-but-a-good-heart-is-pure-gold/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I with borrow'd silver shine, What you see is none of mine. First I show you but a quarter, Like the bow that guards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/i-with-borrow-d-silver-shine-what-you-see-is-none-of-mine-first-i/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/ring-out-false-pride-in-place-and-blood-the-civic-slander-and-the/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [Just as the setting sun turned the clouds to liquid gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/just-as-the-setting-sun-turned-the-clouds-to-liquid-gold/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [No matter what. Wherever your mind wanders, it seems to turn up at the same Field of Dreams. It's the vision you wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-c-collins/no-matter-what-wherever-your-mind-wanders-it-seems-to-turn-up-at-the/) [James C. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-c-collins/) > [The spectacle of a great, solvent government paying a fictitious price for gold it did not want and did not need and doing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garet-garrett/the-spectacle-of-a-great-solvent-government-paying-a-fictitious-price/) [Garet Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garet-garrett/) > [Nothing good comes on a platter of gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-good-comes-on-a-platter-of-gold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the people in Korea are cheering me like I'm a gold medalist or something, so I have a responsibility to my country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psy/all-the-people-in-korea-are-cheering-me-like-i-m-a-gold-medalist-or/) [PSY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/psy/) > [All metallics are neutrals. So it is absolutely fine to mix gold and silver; you just want it to look like it has purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/all-metallics-are-neutrals-so-it-is-absolutely-fine-to-mix-gold-and/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [He gives only the worthless gold who gives from a sense of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-russell-lowell/he-gives-only-the-worthless-gold-who-gives-from-a-sense-of-duty/) [James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-russell-lowell/) [Browse all 3,806 Gold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't remember who said it - I think it was Allan Gurganus when he was visiting the Michener Center - but he told us to \"spend [our] gold,\" meaning, put everything you have into a story. 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