--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Stop thinking about writing as art. Think…" description: "\"Stop thinking about writing as art. Think of it as work. If you’re an artist, whatever you do is going to be art. If you’re not an artist, at least you..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/paddy-chayefsky-17963_art_stop-thinking-about-writing-as-art-think_1110445.jpg" --- # Stop thinking about writing as art. Think of it as work… ![“Stop thinking about writing as art. Think of it as work. If you’re an artist, whatever you do is going to be art. If you’re not an artist, at least you can do a good day’s work.” quote by Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/paddy-chayefsky-17963_art_stop-thinking-about-writing-as-art-think_1110445.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/paddy-chayefsky-17963_art_stop-thinking-about-writing-as-art-think_1110445.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/939/paddy-chayefsky-17963_art_stop-thinking-about-writing-as-art-think_1110445.jpg) > “Stop thinking about writing as art. Think of it as work. If you’re an artist, whatever you do is going to be art. If you’re not an artist, at least you can do a good day’s work.” [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Viewing writing as labor emphasizes discipline, consistency, and purpose over romanticizing the process. **In simple terms:** Treat writing like a job, not a hobby. Key Takeaway Focus on daily productivity. Themes discipline work ethic creativity identity purpose Mood pragmatic reflective Type advice motivational When to use this quote - freelance writing - academic essays - screenwriting - blogging - content creation Key Concepts craftsmanship professionalism self‑concept Questions to Reflect On - How does treating writing as work affect your motivation? - Can routine coexist with artistic freedom? A Different Perspective Creative work still needs inspiration and emotional depth beyond routine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-think-538868/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Good day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-day/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Stop Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stop-thinking-250916/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-writing-449152/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-art-307319/) ## Related quotes > [Artists don't talk about art. Artists talk about work. If I have anything to say to young writers, it's stop thinking of writing as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/artists-don-t-talk-about-art-artists-talk-about-work-if-i-have/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [I had at some point the epiphany that if I wanted to be a writer, maybe I should stop thinking about writing, or stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-fraction/i-had-at-some-point-the-epiphany-that-if-i-wanted-to-be-a-writer/) [Matt Fraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-fraction/) > [Don't think of it as art, think of it as work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/don-t-think-of-it-as-art-think-of-it-as-work/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [Writing is an art but also a craft, which means it's a job. I don't teach. This is how the groceries get on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-huston/writing-is-an-art-but-also-a-craft-which-means-it-s-a-job-i-don-t/) [Charlie Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-huston/) > [I was a fine arts major in college, and a painter for many years. And I found that, like writing, art is very similar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/i-was-a-fine-arts-major-in-college-and-a-painter-for-many-years-and-i/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [I've always liked writing. Even when I was in art school and thought I was going to be a gallery painter, I liked to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-hanawalt/i-ve-always-liked-writing-even-when-i-was-in-art-school-and-thought-i/) [Lisa Hanawalt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-hanawalt/) > [Writing, the art of communicating thoughts to the mind through the eye, is the great invention of the world...enabling us to converse with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/writing-the-art-of-communicating-thoughts-to-the-mind-through-the-eye/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe." — Gustave Flaubert”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minnie-estelle-miller/the-art-of-writing-is-the-art-of-discovering-what-you-believe-gustave/) [Minnie Estelle Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minnie-estelle-miller/) > [I'm not sure sports writing is an art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-knight/i-m-not-sure-sports-writing-is-an-art/) [Bobby Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-knight/) > [“Writing is also an art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-mullo/writing-is-also-an-art/) [Marc Mullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-mullo/) > [Writing is the art of repeating oneself without anyone noticing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/writing-is-the-art-of-repeating-oneself-without-anyone-noticing/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [When I started writing about art, there were no curators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waldemar-januszczak/when-i-started-writing-about-art-there-were-no-curators/) [Waldemar Januszczak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waldemar-januszczak/) > [“Writing and art are my lovers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-stewart/writing-and-art-are-my-lovers/) [Edna Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-stewart/) > [“There’s a difference between the ‘art’ of writing and the ‘craft’ of writing. Art is subjective, its beauty lies in the eyes of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-de-marigny/there-s-a-difference-between-the-art-of-writing-and-the-craft-of/) [Gerard de Marigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-de-marigny/) > [Writing is the art of applying the ass to the seat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-parker/writing-is-the-art-of-applying-the-ass-to-the-seat/) [Dorothy Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-parker/) ## More by Paddy Chayefsky > [We've established the most enormous medical entity ever conceived... and people are sicker than ever. We cure nothing! We heal nothing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/we-ve-established-the-most-enormous-medical-entity-ever-conceived-and/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [The best thing that can happen is for the theme to be nice and clear from the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/the-best-thing-that-can-happen-is-for-the-theme-to-be-nice-and-clear/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [Don't think of it as art, think of it as work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/don-t-think-of-it-as-art-think-of-it-as-work/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [It's not greed and ambition that makes wars--it's goodness. 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Television is a circus, a carnival, a travelling troupe of acrobats and story-tellers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/television-is-not-the-truth-television-is-a-goddamned-amusement-park/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [Television is Democracy at it's ugliest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/television-is-democracy-at-it-s-ugliest/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [Television is god-damned amusement park. Television is a circus, a carnival, a traveling troupe of acrobats, storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, sideshow freaks, lion tamers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/television-is-god-damned-amusement-park-television-is-a-circus-a/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [I'm afraid to look in the mirror. I'm afraid I'm going to see an old lady with white hair, just like the old ladies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/i-m-afraid-to-look-in-the-mirror-i-m-afraid-i-m-going-to-see-an-old/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [I'm a human being, god-dammit. My life has value!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/i-m-a-human-being-god-dammit-my-life-has-value/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [This was the story of Howard Beale: The first known instance of a man who was killed because he had lousy ratings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/this-was-the-story-of-howard-beale-the-first-known-instance-of-a-man/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) > [I'm not sentimental about war. I see nothing noble in widows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-chayefsky/i-m-not-sentimental-about-war-i-see-nothing-noble-in-widows/) [Paddy Chayefsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) [Explore all 36 Paddy Chayefsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-chayefsky/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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