---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a background writing screenplays…"
description: "\"I have a background writing screenplays and teleplays. I've tried to write prose and fiction but never really completed anything I thought worthy of pu..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/michael-imperioli-15945_anything_i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays_173137.jpg"
---

#  I have a background writing screenplays and teleplays…

![“I have a background writing screenplays and teleplays. I've tried to write prose and fiction but never really completed anything I thought worthy of publication or worthy of anyone else to even look at.” quote by Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/michael-imperioli-15945_anything_i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays_173137.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/michael-imperioli-15945_anything_i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays_173137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/michael-imperioli-15945_anything_i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays_173137.jpg)

> “I have a background writing screenplays and teleplays. I've tried to write prose and fiction but never really completed anything I thought worthy of publication or worthy of anyone else to even look at.”

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creative pursuits can be hindered by self‑doubt and perfectionism, leading to unfinished work despite experience and effort.

**In simple terms:** Self‑doubt stops many writers from finishing.

Key Takeaway

Accept imperfection and set realistic goals to finish work.

Themes

creativity self‑doubt perfectionism productivity writing

Mood

reflective determined

Type

advisory motivational

When to use this quote

- writing a novel
- screenplay drafts
- personal journaling
- learning new craft

Key Concepts

psychology goal setting discipline motivation

Questions to Reflect On

- What small step can you take to finish a piece?
- How to you define “worthy” work?

A Different Perspective

Perfectionism may cause endless revisions without completion.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Movie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movie/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [A pop song is a condensed version of a life in three minutes, whereas, when you go to write your prose, you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/a-pop-song-is-a-condensed-version-of-a-life-in-three-minutes-whereas/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [You don't have to be as good a writer to write a song; it's a very different process to writing straight prose. To learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-odell/you-don-t-have-to-be-as-good-a-writer-to-write-a-song-it-s-a-very/)

[Tom Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-odell/)

> [So I really began as a failed poet - although when I first wanted to be a writer, I learned to write prose by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/so-i-really-began-as-a-failed-poet-although-when-i-first-wanted-to-be/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

> [And write what you love - dont feel pressured to write serious prose if what you like is to be funny. You're a reader…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-write-what-you-love-dont-feel-pressured-to-write-serious-prose-if/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Why do you always write poetry? Why do you not write prose? Prose is so much more difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-pater/why-do-you-always-write-poetry-why-do-you-not-write-prose-prose-is-so/)

[Walter Pater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-pater/)

> [My friends tell me that I am an intruder, that I don't really write when I attempt poetry. But those of my friends who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/my-friends-tell-me-that-i-am-an-intruder-that-i-don-t-really-write/)

[Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/)

> [When I first wanted to be a writer, I learned to write prose by reading poetry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/when-i-first-wanted-to-be-a-writer-i-learned-to-write-prose-by/)

[Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/)

> [“If you must write prose or poems, the words you use should be your own. Don't plagiarize or take 'on loan'. There's always someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-must-write-prose-or-poems-the-words-you-use-should-be-your-own/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Because I write prose, when I sat down to write a comic, it feels like my brain's working differently. It actually feels like different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-mina/because-i-write-prose-when-i-sat-down-to-write-a-comic-it-feels-like/)

[Denise Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-mina/)

> [Habit is the best thing for you if you’re trying to write prose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cheuse/habit-is-the-best-thing-for-you-if-you-re-trying-to-write-prose/)

Alan Cheuse

> [I would say that when I write prose I'm a more socially responsible person. I'm much more a citizen of the world. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-seshadri/i-would-say-that-when-i-write-prose-i-m-a-more-socially-responsible/)

[Vijay Seshadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-seshadri/)

> [The decision to write in prose instead of poetry is made more by the readers than by writers. Almost no one is interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-morgan/the-decision-to-write-in-prose-instead-of-poetry-is-made-more-by-the/)

[Robert Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-morgan/)

> [In high school, in 1956, at the age of sixteen, we were not taught "creative writing." We were taught literature and grammar. So no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/in-high-school-in-1956-at-the-age-of-sixteen-we-were-not-taught/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Thinking in prose is different. I gained an immense amount of respect for people who write prose, and also felt even more sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-zapruder/thinking-in-prose-is-different-i-gained-an-immense-amount-of-respect/)

[Matthew Zapruder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-zapruder/)

> [And write what you love - don't feel pressured to write serious prose if what you like is to be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/and-write-what-you-love-don-t-feel-pressured-to-write-serious-prose/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

## More by Michael Imperioli

> [John Ventimiglia, who was on 'The Sopranos,' was in my first acting class and we have been friends since that time. Alec Baldwin was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/john-ventimiglia-who-was-on-the-sopranos-was-in-my-first-acting-class/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [I love fiction and read novels constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-love-fiction-and-read-novels-constantly/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [I do smoke in real life. A lot. We're all smoking right now in fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-do-smoke-in-real-life-a-lot-we-re-all-smoking-right-now-in-fact/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [I played guitar in a band from when I was about 20 for three years. Then I sang a little. Then I started getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-played-guitar-in-a-band-from-when-i-was-about-20-for-three-years/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [It doesn't really matter to me how people see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/it-doesn-t-really-matter-to-me-how-people-see-me/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [I'd go for parts that didn't pay a dime, and there would be 300 to 400 actors there. It could be very discouraging. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-d-go-for-parts-that-didn-t-pay-a-dime-and-there-would-be-300-to-400/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [Detroit 1-8-7' - the numbers are police slang for murder - is filmed in that blue-collar Michigan city, providing a flavor of authenticity. Detroit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/detroit-1-8-7-the-numbers-are-police-slang-for-murder-is-filmed-in/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [Detroit is a city that really stands out. It's been through a very difficult time. There's been a lot of pain here, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/detroit-is-a-city-that-really-stands-out-it-s-been-through-a-very/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [Everybody I play probably has some Italian in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/everybody-i-play-probably-has-some-italian-in-them/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [When you're going through these difficult times of chaos and trauma, the most important thing is to keep those who are closest to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/when-you-re-going-through-these-difficult-times-of-chaos-and-trauma/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [When I was young, you went to school, dealt with your friends and drama, went home, did your homework, went to bed, and started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/when-i-was-young-you-went-to-school-dealt-with-your-friends-and-drama/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [I've played some gangster roles, but that's obviously not me. When you're an Italian-American New York actor, it's just an easy way to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-ve-played-some-gangster-roles-but-that-s-obviously-not-me-when-you/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [There's too many actors in LA. I mean, I'll go out there from time to time, but I always find it pretty soul-destroying. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/there-s-too-many-actors-in-la-i-mean-i-ll-go-out-there-from-time-to/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [Stop and appreciate what you have today. Look at what you have with wider eyes, maybe with more compassion and more gratitude for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/stop-and-appreciate-what-you-have-today-look-at-what-you-have-with/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [I would never put on a Mets hat. Only if I was playing a Met as part of the job. Which, actually, I did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-would-never-put-on-a-mets-hat-only-if-i-was-playing-a-met-as-part/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

[Explore all 41 Michael Imperioli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

## More Anything quotes

> [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/)

[Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/)

> [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/)

[Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/)

> [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/)

[Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/)

[Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/)

> [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/)

[Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/)

> [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/)

[Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/)

> [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/)

[Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/)

> [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/)

[Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/)

> [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/)

[Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/)

> [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/)

[Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/)

> [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/)

[Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/)

> [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/)

[Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/)

> [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/)

[Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/)

> [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/)

[Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/)

Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I have a background writing screenplays and teleplays. I've tried to write prose and fiction but never really completed anything I thought worthy of publication or worthy of anyone else to even look at.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Imperioli"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays-and-teleplays-i-ve-tried-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anything"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays-and-teleplays-i-ve-tried-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/michael-imperioli-15945_anything_i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays_173137.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/michael-imperioli-15945_anything_i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays_173137.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e7/michael-imperioli-15945_anything_i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays_173137.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I have a background writing screenplays and teleplays. I've tried to write prose and fiction but never…” — Michael Imperioli",
                "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": "Michael Imperioli",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I have a background writing screenplays...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays-and-teleplays-i-ve-tried-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-have-a-background-writing-screenplays-and-teleplays-i-ve-tried-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
