--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started writing because I wasn't…" description: "\"I started writing because I wasn't getting the parts that I wanted.\" — Mike O'Malley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/mike-o-malley-20265_because_i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getti_3117871.jpg" --- # I started writing because I wasn't getting the parts that… ![“I started writing because I wasn't getting the parts that I wanted.” quote by Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/mike-o-malley-20265_because_i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getti_3117871.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/mike-o-malley-20265_because_i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getti_3117871.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/mike-o-malley-20265_because_i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getti_3117871.jpg) > “I started writing because I wasn't getting the parts that I wanted.” [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He began writing to fill gaps in the roles he desired, turning unmet needs into creative output. **In simple terms:** He wrote to get the parts he wanted. Key Takeaway Identify missing pieces and create them yourself. Themes creativity career agency Mood motivational pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing - acting - project development Key Concepts self‑determination role creation Questions to Reflect On - What unmet need could you fulfill yourself? - How do you balance creation with collaboration? A Different Perspective Creating roles can be risky without support or resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I was lucky to get the kinds of parts I wanted. I always said I didn't want to do anything my kids can't see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-van-dyke/i-was-lucky-to-get-the-kinds-of-parts-i-wanted-i-always-said-i-didn-t/) [Dick Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-van-dyke/) > [The key is you have to keep doing the right thing. Do the right thing and stay around long enough, and you'll keep getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chazz-palminteri/the-key-is-you-have-to-keep-doing-the-right-thing-do-the-right-thing/) [Chazz Palminteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chazz-palminteri/) > [Writing wasn't easy to start. After I finally did it, I realized it was the most direct contact possible with the part of myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virpi-h-meen-anttila/writing-wasn-t-easy-to-start-after-i-finally-did-it-i-realized-it-was/) Virpi Hameen-Anttila > [In college, I think I probably positioned myself as an aspiring writer, meaning I dressed sort of extravagantly and adopted all the semi-Byronic affectations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-bourdain/in-college-i-think-i-probably-positioned-myself-as-an-aspiring-writer/) [Anthony Bourdain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-bourdain/) > [This writing wasn't painful. It was like being high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mckeen/this-writing-wasn-t-painful-it-was-like-being-high/) [William McKeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-mckeen/) > [Writing wasn't easy and wasn't fun. 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The reason I'm a writer is to dramatize stories about human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/the-reason-i-m-a-writer-is-to-understand-other-people-and-myself-more/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [That's what I'm attracted to: how people face struggle - with humor - and how they handle tough situations in their lives and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/that-s-what-i-m-attracted-to-how-people-face-struggle-with-humor-and/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [Politics isn't something that really interested me; I, of course, care about what's going on in the world, but so much of political discourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/politics-isn-t-something-that-really-interested-me-i-of-course-care/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [I will talk to anybody about 'Survivor's Remorse' because I'm proud of the show and the actors and directors and the entire crew. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-will-talk-to-anybody-about-survivor-s-remorse-because-i-m-proud-of/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [I'm a big boy, and I knew what I was getting into when I got into TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-m-a-big-boy-and-i-knew-what-i-was-getting-into-when-i-got-into-tv/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [There have been plenty of things that I've written that other people haven't cared about, but it hasn't stopped me from being a writer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/there-have-been-plenty-of-things-that-i-ve-written-that-other-people/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [I'm just very interested in how we, as people, can live the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-m-just-very-interested-in-how-we-as-people-can-live-the-right-way/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [I'm just trying to age as ungracefully as I can in front of the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-m-just-trying-to-age-as-ungracefully-as-i-can-in-front-of-the-nation/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [I can change a tire, but I couldn't change a fuse on the computer panel on my car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-can-change-a-tire-but-i-couldn-t-change-a-fuse-on-the-computer/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [I think what good television does well is that it shows characters evolving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-think-what-good-television-does-well-is-that-it-shows-characters/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [For writers, you just have to have the ability to not restrict your imagination. Men can write about women; women can write about men.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/for-writers-you-just-have-to-have-the-ability-to-not-restrict-your/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [Is there an actor who wouldn't want to sing on one of the top-rated shows in the country?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/is-there-an-actor-who-wouldn-t-want-to-sing-on-one-of-the-top-rated/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [I had always wanted to run my own show and focus solely on the writing, and that's what 'Survivor's Remorse' has been for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-had-always-wanted-to-run-my-own-show-and-focus-solely-on-the/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [The tale of the actor struggling to make it is oft-told for a reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/the-tale-of-the-actor-struggling-to-make-it-is-oft-told-for-a-reason/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) > [We know, in history, people are unable to put different elements together and create gold, yet it's what you're asking actors to do every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/we-know-in-history-people-are-unable-to-put-different-elements/) [Mike O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) [Explore all 31 Mike O'Malley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/) ## More Because quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [There were songs that we cut out after we chose the name, because 'Praise Break' turned out to be an underlying concept that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-caesar/there-were-songs-that-we-cut-out-after-we-chose-the-name-because/) [Daniel Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-caesar/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I was also known as Frodo because I was an early adopter of 'The Lord of the Rings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-perrotta/i-was-also-known-as-frodo-because-i-was-an-early-adopter-of-the-lord/) [Tom Perrotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-perrotta/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [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/) > [Sometimes, when full and in fear that I will continue to eat unwanted food just because it's staring at me, I will place my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-nichols/sometimes-when-full-and-in-fear-that-i-will-continue-to-eat-unwanted/) [Rachel Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-nichols/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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I accepted it for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suresh-gopi/i-was-contacted-by-rajyavardhan-singh-rathore-mp-through-the-pune/) [Suresh Gopi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suresh-gopi/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) Browse all 15,485 Because quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started writing because I wasn't getting the parts that I wanted.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mike O'Malley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getting-the-parts-that-i-wanted/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Because" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getting-the-parts-that-i-wanted/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/mike-o-malley-20265_because_i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getti_3117871.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/mike-o-malley-20265_because_i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getti_3117871.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b7/mike-o-malley-20265_because_i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getti_3117871.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started writing because I wasn't getting the parts that I wanted.” — Mike O'Malley", "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": "Mike O'Malley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-o-malley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started writing because I wasn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getting-the-parts-that-i-wanted/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-o-malley/i-started-writing-because-i-wasn-t-getting-the-parts-that-i-wanted/#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 } } ] } ```