--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is important to writing. . . that…" description: "\"“This is important to writing. . . that is, it is important to my own writing. This. . . is landscape! Mine. This dirt came from the prairie where I wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/patricia-maclachlan-14887_children_this-is-important-to-writing-that-is-it_2423160.jpg" --- # This is important to writing. . . that is, it is important… ![“This is important to writing. . . that is, it is important to my own writing. This. . . is landscape! Mine. This dirt came from the prairie where I was a child. I played in it, dug in it, planted in it, and walked over it. It is where I began. And all my writing begins with a landscape such as…” quote by Patricia MacLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/patricia-maclachlan-14887_children_this-is-important-to-writing-that-is-it_2423160.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/patricia-maclachlan-14887_children_this-is-important-to-writing-that-is-it_2423160.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20b/patricia-maclachlan-14887_children_this-is-important-to-writing-that-is-it_2423160.jpg) > ““This is important to writing. . . that is, it is important to my own writing. This. . . is landscape! Mine. This dirt came from the prairie where I was a child. I played in it, dug in it, planted in it, and walked over it. It is where I began. And all my writing begins with a landscape such as this. A place.”” [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. Our early environments shape our creative voice and identity. **In simple terms:** Childhood places influence our writing. Key Takeaway Embrace your roots for authentic expression. Themes memory place creativity Mood nostalgic inspirational Type literary reflective When to use this quote - writing - teaching - personal growth - therapy Key Concepts environmental influence identity formation Questions to Reflect On - What landscape shaped you most? - How can you expand beyond that origin? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on place may limit broader perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing-craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-craft/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes what I'm writing is more important to me than the rest of my life. 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And that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silas-house/i-always-tell-my-writing-students-that-every-good-piece-of-writing/) [Silas House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silas-house/) > [Writing ... it begins as an amusement, then it becomes a mistress, then a master, and finally a tyrant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/writing-it-begins-as-an-amusement-then-it-becomes-a-mistress-then-a/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Many novice writers, students in particular, think that writing is little more than copying down their self-talk, the palaver of the voices they hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rhodes/many-novice-writers-students-in-particular-think-that-writing-is/) [Richard Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rhodes/) > [All writing begins in the sea of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lane/all-writing-begins-in-the-sea-of-experience/) [Barry Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lane/) > [The writing begins when you’ve finished. Only then do you know what you’re trying to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-writing-begins-when-you-ve-finished-only-then-do-you-know-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe writing is where it all begins; you can not make a film look different, you have to write it differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakshit-shetty/i-believe-writing-is-where-it-all-begins-you-can-not-make-a-film-look/) [Rakshit Shetty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakshit-shetty/) > [Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something—anything—down on paper. What I’ve learned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/almost-all-good-writing-begins-with-terrible-first-efforts-you-need-3/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Literature is what you write when you think you should be saying something. Writing begins when you'd rather be doing anything else: and you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-patchen/literature-is-what-you-write-when-you-think-you-should-be-saying/) [Kenneth Patchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-patchen/) > [Everything in writing begins with language. Language begins with listening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/everything-in-writing-begins-with-language-language-begins-with/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Writing begins in the body, it is the music of the body, and even if the words have meaning, can sometimes have meaning, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/writing-begins-in-the-body-it-is-the-music-of-the-body-and-even-if/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“Heavy as such things are After the wordslide, the writing begins." From "Word Quake”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-granfors/heavy-as-such-things-are-after-the-wordslide-the-writing-begins-from/) [Eileen Granfors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-granfors/) > [Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something-anything-down on paper. A friend of mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/almost-all-good-writing-begins-with-terrible-first-efforts-you-need-2/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/almost-all-good-writing-begins-with-terrible-first-efforts-you-need/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) ## 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 Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? 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