--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no special talent, you know. I…" description: "\"I have no special talent, you know. I never took a writing course before I began to write.\" — Patricia Reilly Giff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/patricia-reilly-giff-21913_special_i-have-no-special-talent-you-know-i-neve_2311223.jpg" --- # I have no special talent, you know. I never took a writing… ![“I have no special talent, you know. I never took a writing course before I began to write.” quote by Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/patricia-reilly-giff-21913_special_i-have-no-special-talent-you-know-i-neve_2311223.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/patricia-reilly-giff-21913_special_i-have-no-special-talent-you-know-i-neve_2311223.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f09/patricia-reilly-giff-21913_special_i-have-no-special-talent-you-know-i-neve_2311223.jpg) > “I have no special talent, you know. I never took a writing course before I began to write.” [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Lack of formal training doesn’t prevent creative writing; practice and passion matter. **In simple terms:** You can write without a course. Key Takeaway Write and learn through doing. Themes creativity self‑education confidence Mood inspired hopeful Type advice encouraging When to use this quote - personal journals - blogging - novel drafting - self‑publishing Key Concepts Growth mindset skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to improve writing skills? - How does practice compare to formal study? A Different Perspective Formal education can provide useful techniques and feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When it comes to writers, I'm a huge fan of Ian McEwan. I've never taken a writing course, but reading and deconstructing his novels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-copaken-kogan/when-it-comes-to-writers-i-m-a-huge-fan-of-ian-mcewan-i-ve-never/) [Deborah Copaken Kogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-copaken-kogan/) > [“It's all about the writing, and of course, the ghosts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debi-chestnut/it-s-all-about-the-writing-and-of-course-the-ghosts/) Debi Chestnut > [The key thing in my becoming a writer was going on a Arvon Foundation residential writing course. 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And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-jo-campbell/i-was-unhappy-and-i-couldn-t-figure-out-what-was-the-matter-and-he/) [Bonnie Jo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-jo-campbell/) > [The one thing emphasized in any creative writing course is 'write what you know,' and that automatically drives a wooden stake through the heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-one-thing-emphasized-in-any-creative-writing-course-is-write-what/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I began to write again. I wrote just for the fuck of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-leebron/i-began-to-write-again-i-wrote-just-for-the-fuck-of-it/) Fred Leebron > [I took a writing class in college, liked it, and my first year out of school I couldn't get a job, so I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kazan/i-took-a-writing-class-in-college-liked-it-and-my-first-year-out-of/) [Zoe Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kazan/) > [“For the first time in my life I took to writing things on walls. The passage-ways of several smart restaurants had ' Visca P.O.U.M.!'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/for-the-first-time-in-my-life-i-took-to-writing-things-on-walls-the/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [ I hated the culture \[working in the bank\], I hated the work. I very quickly realized that this wasn't what I wanted to do.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharif-abdel-kouddous/i-hated-the-culture-working-in-the-bank-i-hated-the-work-i-very/) [Sharif Abdel Kouddous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharif-abdel-kouddous/) > [I was not going to use writing for advertising or journalism. I would tend bar, load trucks, chauffeur - do whatever it took. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/i-was-not-going-to-use-writing-for-advertising-or-journalism-i-would/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [I took up writing because I needed money. And I continued to write because it's safer than stealing and easier than working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/i-took-up-writing-because-i-needed-money-and-i-continued-to-write/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [I never took a writing class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-pelecanos/i-never-took-a-writing-class/) [George Pelecanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-pelecanos/) > ['Back to Blood' really took it out of me. While I was writing it, I just never went out anywhere, except to the gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/back-to-blood-really-took-it-out-of-me-while-i-was-writing-it-i-just/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) ## More by Patricia Reilly Giff > [I loved teaching. It was my world. I only left because I was overwhelmed with three careers - teaching, writing, and my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-loved-teaching-it-was-my-world-i-only-left-because-i-was/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“You're going to be something, you and that language you speak on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/you-re-going-to-be-something-you-and-that-language-you-speak-on-paper/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [The reasons kids get into trouble in one way or another is because - Who ever told them they were special?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/the-reasons-kids-get-into-trouble-in-one-way-or-another-is-because/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“I want to see children curled up with books, finding an awareness of themselves as they discover other people's thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-want-to-see-children-curled-up-with-books-finding-an-awareness-of/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [To me, family is everything. I want children to realize how important their families are and what a support system a family is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/to-me-family-is-everything-i-want-children-to-realize-how-important/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [All of my books are based in some way on my personal experiences, or the experiences of members of my family, or the stories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/all-of-my-books-are-based-in-some-way-on-my-personal-experiences-or/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [I myself was terrified during the Second World War. The war started when I was six, and I was so sure that we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-myself-was-terrified-during-the-second-world-war-the-war-started/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [What I think of sometimes, as I read the new books - do kids really need to see such a seamy side of life?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/what-i-think-of-sometimes-as-i-read-the-new-books-do-kids-really-need/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [Outside of family, writing is essential. To me, it's like breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/outside-of-family-writing-is-essential-to-me-it-s-like-breathing/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“Don't be silly,” Linda said. “Emily knew all the time.” Emily pulled an old flowerpot out of her way. “Let's look for the box,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/don-t-be-silly-linda-said-emily-knew-all-the-time-emily-pulled-an-old/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [Sometimes when I visit schools, kids will interview me for the school newspaper. They ask me questions and my answers tend to go on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/sometimes-when-i-visit-schools-kids-will-interview-me-for-the-school/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“The stakes are high. One sound before we escape and we’re stuck with our five-year-old brother, Steadman, for the rest of the morning. Steadman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/the-stakes-are-high-one-sound-before-we-escape-and-we-re-stuck-with/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [“I don't really read as much but I am reading a depressing book on the Holocaust…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-reilly-giff/i-don-t-really-read-as-much-but-i-am-reading-a-depressing-book-on-the/) [Patricia Reilly Giff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-reilly-giff/) > [What inspired me to become an author? I think it was the snow in New York. 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You could wear it on the surface of the sun and it wouldn't move.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-smith/i-ve-discovered-special-makeup-by-a-company-called-m-a-c-you-could/) [Robert Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-smith/) > [I just wanna kind of give the world something special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-way/i-just-wanna-kind-of-give-the-world-something-special/) [Gerard Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-way/) > [Man United has always had a unique aura about it, and when you watch them play everyone knows it's something special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-glazer/man-united-has-always-had-a-unique-aura-about-it-and-when-you-watch/) [Joel Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-glazer/) > [Photography's potential as a great image-maker and communicator is really no different from the same potential in the best poetry where familiar, everyday words,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-caponigro/photography-s-potential-as-a-great-image-maker-and-communicator-is/) [Paul Caponigro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-caponigro/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [Restore human legs as a means of travel. Pedestrians rely on food for fuel and need no special parking facilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/restore-human-legs-as-a-means-of-travel-pedestrians-rely-on-food-for/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [In my former life I was in insider, as much as anybody else. 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