--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can always tell when I'm about to start…" description: "\"I can always tell when I'm about to start writing. I go through cycles in reading. When I'm beginning to start to write something, I start reading what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/patricia-maclachlan-14887_about_i-can-always-tell-when-i-m-about-to-star_1704782.jpg" --- # I can always tell when I'm about to start writing. I go… ![“I can always tell when I'm about to start writing. I go through cycles in reading. When I'm beginning to start to write something, I start reading what I think of as good literature. I read things with wonderful language.” quote by Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/patricia-maclachlan-14887_about_i-can-always-tell-when-i-m-about-to-star_1704782.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/patricia-maclachlan-14887_about_i-can-always-tell-when-i-m-about-to-star_1704782.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/890/patricia-maclachlan-14887_about_i-can-always-tell-when-i-m-about-to-star_1704782.jpg) > “I can always tell when I'm about to start writing. I go through cycles in reading. When I'm beginning to start to write something, I start reading what I think of as good literature. I read things with wonderful language.” [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author describes a personal ritual where reading high‑quality literature precedes the act of writing, using it as a catalyst for inspiration. **In simple terms:** Reading good literature sparks writing. Key Takeaway Read inspiring works before writing. Themes creativity inspiration writing process Mood reflective thoughtful Type process inspirational When to use this quote - academic research - creative writing - personal development - literary study Key Concepts literary influence creative cycles Questions to Reflect On - How does reading affect your writing flow? - What genre best fuels your creativity? A Different Perspective May not work for those who need immediate drafting without preparation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginning/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Cycles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycles/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Reading Beginning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading-beginning-1186593/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Start Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-writing/) [Tell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell/) [Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/through/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Cycles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-cycles-1186592/) ## Related quotes > [I go through cycles with my writing. I have cycles where I'm up all night and lose track of time, and then I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-russell/i-go-through-cycles-with-my-writing-i-have-cycles-where-i-m-up-all/) [Brenda Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-russell/) > [Reading is at the beginning of the social contract.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-manguel/reading-is-at-the-beginning-of-the-social-contract/) [Alberto Manguel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-manguel/) > [Reading something from beginning to end. That is reading with love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilles-deleuze/reading-something-from-beginning-to-end-that-is-reading-with-love/) [Gilles Deleuze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilles-deleuze/) > [I craft everything in the beginning. I know where the characters are going before I start writing the book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/i-craft-everything-in-the-beginning-i-know-where-the-characters-are/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [Everything has its cycle. I think it's appropriate for us to be ending now. But the beauty of storytelling, and the beauty of film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-beals/everything-has-its-cycle-i-think-it-s-appropriate-for-us-to-be-ending/) [Jennifer Beals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-beals/) > [Each time I write a new piece, whether a novel, a picture book, a speech or anything, really, it has so much to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/each-time-i-write-a-new-piece-whether-a-novel-a-picture-book-a-speech/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I think growing up in South Africa, and then moving to Canada, I'm just genuinely interested in the difference between the First World and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-think-growing-up-in-south-africa-and-then-moving-to-canada-i-m-just/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [I'm sure there was some part of his soul was intrinsically happy, but he probably had to go through some permutations to really get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/i-m-sure-there-was-some-part-of-his-soul-was-intrinsically-happy-but/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [The donning of the ear buds marks the beginning of teen life, when children set off on their own for the passage through adolescence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amity-shlaes/the-donning-of-the-ear-buds-marks-the-beginning-of-teen-life-when/) [Amity Shlaes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amity-shlaes/) > [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/) > [You should constantly write because your writing is always evolving and progressing. It's really important to start writing young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-goulding/you-should-constantly-write-because-your-writing-is-always-evolving/) [Ellie Goulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-goulding/) > [Special-interest magazines are dangerous places for writers to start out in because the writing quickly falls into a routine and people are likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/special-interest-magazines-are-dangerous-places-for-writers-to-start/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [“I suggested to her that she start writing. "I can't write at all," she said. "Neither can many bestsellers," I replied. "But that pesky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-suggested-to-her-that-she-start-writing-i-can-t-write-at-all-she/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I usually start writing stories from tone and not from content - kind of like people who create music and invent the lyrics later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etgar-keret/i-usually-start-writing-stories-from-tone-and-not-from-content-kind/) [Etgar Keret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etgar-keret/) > [“Advice? I don’t have advice. Stop aspiring and start writing. If you’re writing, you’re a writer. Write like you’re a goddamn death row inmate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/advice-i-don-t-have-advice-stop-aspiring-and-start-writing-if-you-re/) [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/) ## More by Patricia MacLachlan > [Each time I write a new piece, whether a novel, a picture book, a speech or anything, really, it has so much to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/each-time-i-write-a-new-piece-whether-a-novel-a-picture-book-a-speech/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I love to talk to children about making mistakes. Its important that I tell them about how I dont get it right the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-love-to-talk-to-children-about-making-mistakes-its-important-that-i/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [My greatest fear is being somewhere without a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/my-greatest-fear-is-being-somewhere-without-a-book/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I have great respect for children. And I have great respect for their ability as writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-have-great-respect-for-children-and-i-have-great-respect-for-their/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [You should know that there are some things for which there are no answers, no matter how beautiful the words may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/you-should-know-that-there-are-some-things-for-which-there-are-no/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Sadness is Steam rising Tears falling A breath you take in But can't let out As hard as you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/sadness-is-steam-rising-tears-falling-a-breath-you-take-in-but-can-t/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I think it's important to remember where I began. I know that when I talk to other writers, say, writers from the South or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-think-it-s-important-to-remember-where-i-began-i-know-that-when-i/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Where else," I will say, "does an old turtle crossing the path Make all the difference in the world?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/where-else-i-will-say-does-an-old-turtle-crossing-the-path-make-all/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“Byrd: It is important because we are giving her something to take away with her when she goes. Lalo: What will she take with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/byrd-it-is-important-because-we-are-giving-her-something-to-take-away/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I never work from an outline, and often I don't know how the story will end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-never-work-from-an-outline-and-often-i-don-t-know-how-the-story/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [I'm working on a bunch of things with my daughter Emily. In some ways, she's a smarter and better editor than I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/i-m-working-on-a-bunch-of-things-with-my-daughter-emily-in-some-ways/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“There are always things to miss," said Maggie. "No matter where you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/there-are-always-things-to-miss-said-maggie-no-matter-where-you-are/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [My inspiration for writing is all the wonderful books that I read as a child and that I still read. I think that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/my-inspiration-for-writing-is-all-the-wonderful-books-that-i-read-as/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [“...there are some things for which there are no answers, no matter how beautiful the words may be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/there-are-some-things-for-which-there-are-no-answers-no-matter-how/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) > [Life is made up of circles ... Life is not a straight line ... And sometimes we circle back to a past time. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-maclachlan/life-is-made-up-of-circles-life-is-not-a-straight-line-and-sometimes/) [Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) [Explore all 45 Patricia MacLachlan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-maclachlan/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [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/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can always tell when I'm about to start writing. I go through cycles in reading. When I'm beginning to start to write something, I start reading what I think of as good literature. 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