--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As with most things, my approach to…" description: "\"“As with most things, my approach to writing has been entirely ass-backwards. I first had to become everything but a writer -- exhaust all possibilitie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/quentin-r-bufogle-17660_writer_as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writi_3205616.jpg" --- # As with most things, my approach to writing has been… ![“As with most things, my approach to writing has been entirely ass-backwards. I first had to become everything but a writer -- exhaust all possibilities. I had to come to it on my knees. Only when there was truly nothing left, was I able to become a writer.” quote by Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/quentin-r-bufogle-17660_writer_as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writi_3205616.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/quentin-r-bufogle-17660_writer_as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writi_3205616.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/quentin-r-bufogle-17660_writer_as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writi_3205616.jpg) > ““As with most things, my approach to writing has been entirely ass-backwards. I first had to become everything but a writer -- exhaust all possibilities. I had to come to it on my knees. Only when there was truly nothing left, was I able to become a writer.”” [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He writes by first stripping away his writer identity, allowing raw experience to shape his voice. **In simple terms:** He empties himself before writing. Key Takeaway Empty mind, then create. Themes creativity process humility selfdiscovery writing Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - novel writing - screenplay development - personal essays Key Concepts blank slate creative block authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What does “nothing left” feel like? - How can you prepare for that emptiness? A Different Perspective Assuming you can become a writer instantly is unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach-writing-355200/) [Ass Backwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ass-backwards-1329340/) [Backwards Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backwards-writer-5968475/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Entirely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-entirely-3229308/) ## Related quotes > [Harvard created wonderful conditions for me as a writerbut the writing was done, almost entirely, when I got home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-heaney/harvard-created-wonderful-conditions-for-me-as-a-writerbut-the/) [Seamus Heaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-heaney/) > [The process of book writing for me is entirely one of trial and error.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/the-process-of-book-writing-for-me-is-entirely-one-of-trial-and-error/) [Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/) > [“You're not going to just walk out of my life. Especially when your reasons are ass backwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenaya-jayne/you-re-not-going-to-just-walk-out-of-my-life-especially-when-your/) [Tenaya Jayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenaya-jayne/) > [“Wonderful", the Flatline said, "I never did like to do anything simple when I could do it ass-backwards.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/wonderful-the-flatline-said-i-never-did-like-to-do-anything-simple/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [The world is so ass-backwards it almost makes you wish you were dyslexic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/the-world-is-so-ass-backwards-it-almost-makes-you-wish-you-were/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [“Cary Taylor. Loving you isn’t a character defect.” “Well, it’s not very smart. I was such an asshole to him,” he muttered, looking disgruntled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/cary-taylor-loving-you-isn-t-a-character-defect-well-it-s-not-very/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [The idea of let's all share the pain equally, or let's freeze salaries altogether - it's ass-backwards. It's absolutely ass-backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/the-idea-of-let-s-all-share-the-pain-equally-or-let-s-freeze-salaries/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [I wanted to be the girl that talks about getting a guy. I felt like that was a different approach to writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsea-ballerini/i-wanted-to-be-the-girl-that-talks-about-getting-a-guy-i-felt-like/) [Kelsea Ballerini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsea-ballerini/) > [I always struggled going against the grain of how pop music should be structured and the seriousness with which people approach writing sessions in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-abrams/i-always-struggled-going-against-the-grain-of-how-pop-music-should-be/) [Gracie Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-abrams/) > [When I'm editing my work, I'm looking for everything to fit, to feel seamless, for every detail or line of dialogue or scene to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/when-i-m-editing-my-work-i-m-looking-for-everything-to-fit-to-feel/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [There are two ways to approach the writing of a mystery novel: adhere to the rules, or break them with glee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weinman/there-are-two-ways-to-approach-the-writing-of-a-mystery-novel-adhere/) [Sarah Weinman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weinman/) > [At the end, I cobbled scenes all together and smoothed out the transitions as much as possible. Incidentally, I would not recommend this approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-campbell/at-the-end-i-cobbled-scenes-all-together-and-smoothed-out-the/) [Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-campbell/) > [I think of it as the lasagna approach to writing because I'm always adding layers. I'll sometimes do it layer by layer, with dialogue,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-cain/i-think-of-it-as-the-lasagna-approach-to-writing-because-i-m-always/) [Chelsea Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-cain/) > [A good book is a good book, and there are a lot of different ways to approach writing or reading one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-barton/a-good-book-is-a-good-book-and-there-are-a-lot-of-different-ways-to/) [Emily Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-barton/) > [You've got to be a good reader. So whatever genre that you're interested in, read a lot of books about it and it's better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-hickam/you-ve-got-to-be-a-good-reader-so-whatever-genre-that-you-re/) [Homer Hickam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-hickam/) ## More by Quentin R. Bufogle > [“If a person has no conscience, it's called being a sociopath. If a corporation has no conscience, it's called capitalism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/if-a-person-has-no-conscience-it-s-called-being-a-sociopath-if-a/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“Be thankful for the little you've got, and a little is all you're gonna get.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/be-thankful-for-the-little-you-ve-got-and-a-little-is-all-you-re/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“After listening to Rick Santorum, I'm now for late-term abortions (say up to age 53).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/after-listening-to-rick-santorum-i-m-now-for-late-term-abortions-say/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“It's a random universe. Shit happens. Good people get stage 4 cancer and dipshits win the lottery. There is no justice. Everything doesn't always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/it-s-a-random-universe-shit-happens-good-people-get-stage-4-cancer/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“If there's no honor among thieves, only a colossal idiot (or fellow thief) would suggest using the honor system to regulate big banks and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/if-there-s-no-honor-among-thieves-only-a-colossal-idiot-or-fellow/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“Literature today is like elevator music for a narcoleptic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/literature-today-is-like-elevator-music-for-a-narcoleptic/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“A friend told me that one day he and I would be rich and famous. I told him that I'd trade my half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/a-friend-told-me-that-one-day-he-and-i-would-be-rich-and-famous-i/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“Everything's a bad metaphor for sex.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/everything-s-a-bad-metaphor-for-sex/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“Forget the National Debt Clock. We need an electronic billboard to track all the daily shootings in this country. I'm really sick of listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/forget-the-national-debt-clock-we-need-an-electronic-billboard-to/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“I must give myself permission not to like myself. It's ok. Plenty of other people don't like me either. And I have much higher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/i-must-give-myself-permission-not-to-like-myself-it-s-ok-plenty-of/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“I was planning on procrastinating today . . . but never got around to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/i-was-planning-on-procrastinating-today-but-never-got-around-to-it/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“I want an avowed atheist in the White House. When time comes to push that button, I want whoever's making the decision to understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/i-want-an-avowed-atheist-in-the-white-house-when-time-comes-to-push/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“One thing I love about politicians; they won't allow the truth to be obscured by a bunch of facts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/one-thing-i-love-about-politicians-they-won-t-allow-the-truth-to-be/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“There are no sacred cows -- just ask Ronald McDonald.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/there-are-no-sacred-cows-just-ask-ronald-mcdonald/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) > [“Packy watched her walk away, her perfect heart-shaped rear end testing the confines of her tight black dress. There was a God. Packy was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/packy-watched-her-walk-away-her-perfect-heart-shaped-rear-end-testing/) [Quentin R. Bufogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) [Explore all 36 Quentin R. Bufogle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/) ## More Writer quotes > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. Krebs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-k-krebs/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [If I don't know who I'm writing for, I make it up and pick somebody I'm writing for. That's really the only way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-mazin/if-i-don-t-know-who-i-m-writing-for-i-make-it-up-and-pick-somebody-i/) [Craig Mazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-mazin/) > [At the very beginning, I was a page at Letterman, and I freelanced for any place that would let me write any word. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-schwartz/at-the-very-beginning-i-was-a-page-at-letterman-and-i-freelanced-for/) [Ben Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-schwartz/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [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/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) [Markus Herz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-herz/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) [Browse all 43,858 Writer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As with most things, my approach to writing has been entirely ass-backwards. I first had to become everything but a writer -- exhaust all possibilities. I had to come to it on my knees. Only when there was truly nothing left, was I able to become a writer.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Quentin R. Bufogle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writing-has-been-entirely-ass/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Writer" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writing-has-been-entirely-ass/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/quentin-r-bufogle-17660_writer_as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writi_3205616.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/quentin-r-bufogle-17660_writer_as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writi_3205616.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/quentin-r-bufogle-17660_writer_as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writi_3205616.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As with most things, my approach to writing has been entirely ass-backwards. I first had to become…” — Quentin R. Bufogle", "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": "Quentin R. Bufogle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-r-bufogle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As with most things, my approach...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writing-has-been-entirely-ass/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-r-bufogle/as-with-most-things-my-approach-to-writing-has-been-entirely-ass/#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 } } ] } ```