--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first book I sat down to write was an…" description: "\"The first book I sat down to write was an historical romance. It was really bad and thankfully no one ever saw it.\" — Rachel Gibson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/rachel-gibson-2827_book_the-first-book-i-sat-down-to-write-was-a_1201787.png" --- # The first book I sat down to write was an historical… ![“The first book I sat down to write was an historical romance. It was really bad and thankfully no one ever saw it.” quote by Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/rachel-gibson-2827_book_the-first-book-i-sat-down-to-write-was-a_1201787.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/rachel-gibson-2827_book_the-first-book-i-sat-down-to-write-was-a_1201787.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bae/rachel-gibson-2827_book_the-first-book-i-sat-down-to-write-was-a_1201787.png) > “The first book I sat down to write was an historical romance. It was really bad and thankfully no one ever saw it.” [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early attempts at writing can be poor, but they are valuable learning steps toward improvement. **In simple terms:** Bad first drafts are normal and helpful. Key Takeaway Write, revise, and keep learning. Themes creativity learning perseverance Mood encouraging optimistic Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - novel writing - blogging - storytelling Key Concepts writing process self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - What did you learn from your first draft? - How can you turn early mistakes into growth? A Different Perspective Fear of failure can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical/) [Historical Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/historical-romance-2454697/) [Really Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-bad/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Romance Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-really-2629356/) [Sat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sat/) [Saws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saws/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write Historical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-historical-256244/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [In 1976, I read a book by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and knew immediately that I, too, could write a historical romance. It took me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/in-1976-i-read-a-book-by-kathleen-e-woodiwiss-and-knew-immediately/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [I have no desire to write historical anything or futuristic anything - I want to find a way to get at the essence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/i-have-no-desire-to-write-historical-anything-or-futuristic-anything/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [I don't write fantasy; I write historical novels about an imaginary place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/i-don-t-write-fantasy-i-write-historical-novels-about-an-imaginary/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [If someone had told me in high school that one day I'd write an historical novel, I would have rolled my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/if-someone-had-told-me-in-high-school-that-one-day-i-d-write-an/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [I didn't need to write historical epics, no, or science fiction, though I read a lot of science fiction as a kid and rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/i-didn-t-need-to-write-historical-epics-no-or-science-fiction-though/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [The romance that can never really gel because of the powers that be... that's a great conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nutter/the-romance-that-can-never-really-gel-because-of-the-powers-that-be/) [David Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nutter/) > [When it comes to romance, I'm really simple. I am really a 'dinner and a movie' type of person, and I love food, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-grey/when-it-comes-to-romance-i-m-really-simple-i-am-really-a-dinner-and-a/) [Sasha Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-grey/) > [I just had a romance that I really care about, a lot-I mean, a lot-go up in smoke. Because of the stress, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-just-had-a-romance-that-i-really-care-about-a-lot-i-mean-a-lot-go/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [A historical romance is the only kind of book where chastity really counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-cartland/a-historical-romance-is-the-only-kind-of-book-where-chastity-really/) [Barbara Cartland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-cartland/) > [Superb historical romance, with a spiritual theme woven seamlessly throughout. I much enjoyed The Covered Deep and look forward to more from its author!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/superb-historical-romance-with-a-spiritual-theme-woven-seamlessly/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [One of the things I enjoy most about writing historical romance is researching inspiring backgrounds and settings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-cornick/one-of-the-things-i-enjoy-most-about-writing-historical-romance-is/) [Nicola Cornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-cornick/) > [I'm mostly a historical romance reader, but I never miss a Susan Elizabeth Phillips book. Her characters are larger than life and heartbreakingly real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/i-m-mostly-a-historical-romance-reader-but-i-never-miss-a-susan/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I love to read history books, which is where I get my ideas. I also read historical romance for pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-henley/i-love-to-read-history-books-which-is-where-i-get-my-ideas-i-also/) [Virginia Henley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-henley/) > [Historical romance is still very strong in the market. Writers of historical romance are making the bestselling lists on a regular basis and careers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeline-hunter/historical-romance-is-still-very-strong-in-the-market-writers-of/) [Madeline Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeline-hunter/) > [I did a co-authored book not so long ago that was an American historical romance set at the turn of the century. I'm fascinated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-did-a-co-authored-book-not-so-long-ago-that-was-an-american/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) ## More by Rachel Gibson > [“He wrapped his arms around her waist and looked at her through those intense brown eyes she loved. "I wanted you when I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/he-wrapped-his-arms-around-her-waist-and-looked-at-her-through-those/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“You are the pinch in my heart. The catch in my breath. The reason my stomach tumbles...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/you-are-the-pinch-in-my-heart-the-catch-in-my-breath-the-reason-my/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“Kiss me, babe."' "No, really." Beneath the light of a sixty-watt bulb on her porch, Adele Harris placed a hand on the chest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/kiss-me-babe-no-really-beneath-the-light-of-a-sixty-watt-bulb-on-her/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“I have fallen in love with you, and there is no future for us. That you burst into my life suddenly only a short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-you-and-there-is-no-future-for-us-that-you/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [Each time I reach a goal or read a great review, I am beyond pleased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/each-time-i-reach-a-goal-or-read-a-great-review-i-am-beyond-pleased/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“I know about safe sex," Nathan said, interrupting Jack's thoughts. Jack swallowed. "That's good." He smiled at his son, vastly relieved that there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/i-know-about-safe-sex-nathan-said-interrupting-jack-s-thoughts-jack/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“I want to tell you something." He placed her palm against her cheek, rough with stubble. "In my life, I've been with women I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/i-want-to-tell-you-something-he-placed-her-palm-against-her-cheek/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“The scariest thing about crazy people is that they can look so normal - Rob Sutter”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/the-scariest-thing-about-crazy-people-is-that-they-can-look-so-normal/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“Joe certainly didn't seem concerned with his own enlightenment, but he did seem more intelligent than the average muscle neck. Then he raised his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/joe-certainly-didn-t-seem-concerned-with-his-own-enlightenment-but-he/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“I'm here because you're here. When a man loves a woman, he wants to spend time with her. Even if that means he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/i-m-here-because-you-re-here-when-a-man-loves-a-woman-he-wants-to/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“He looked into her face and tossed her sweater on the floor. "I thank God you walked out of my memory and into my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/he-looked-into-her-face-and-tossed-her-sweater-on-the-floor-i-thank/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“You’re not some woman I picked up in a bar, Chelsea. You’re not a one-night stand. Don’t sneak out on me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/you-re-not-some-woman-i-picked-up-in-a-bar-chelsea-you-re-not-a-one/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“For the first time since she'd pieced her heart back together, she felt a small tug at one of the strings. She dropped her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/for-the-first-time-since-she-d-pieced-her-heart-back-together-she/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“Are you trying to tell me—in your own typically macho way—that you want to make love again?” He glanced at her. “I’m not trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/are-you-trying-to-tell-me-in-your-own-typically-macho-way-that-you/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) > [“Mom," Nathan called to her. Daisy pulled her gaze from the tent and the fleeting glimpse of Jack's bare back, the smooth planes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-gibson/mom-nathan-called-to-her-daisy-pulled-her-gaze-from-the-tent-and-the/) [Rachel Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) [Explore all 147 Rachel Gibson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-gibson/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first book I sat down to write was an historical romance. 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