--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once I became an adult and started to…" description: "\"Once I became an adult and started to pursue writing as a professional career, I realized my main characters were always young people. My stories natur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/ren-e-watson-23046_adults_once-i-became-an-adult-and-started-to-pu_1485399.jpg" --- # Once I became an adult and started to pursue writing as a… ![“Once I became an adult and started to pursue writing as a professional career, I realized my main characters were always young people. My stories naturally center around children and teenagers. I think it's because I have worked with youth for about twelve years. The pains and joys of adolescents…” quote by Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/ren-e-watson-23046_adults_once-i-became-an-adult-and-started-to-pu_1485399.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/ren-e-watson-23046_adults_once-i-became-an-adult-and-started-to-pu_1485399.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8b9/ren-e-watson-23046_adults_once-i-became-an-adult-and-started-to-pu_1485399.jpg) > “Once I became an adult and started to pursue writing as a professional career, I realized my main characters were always young people. My stories naturally center around children and teenagers. I think it's because I have worked with youth for about twelve years. The pains and joys of adolescents are moments I witness on a daily basis, so their stories are always with me as I write.” [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) ## 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’s professional writing is shaped by years working with youth, leading to youthful protagonists. **In simple terms:** Youth work influences her stories. Key Takeaway Leverage personal experience in creative work. Themes writing youth experience Mood reflective inspirational Type creative professional When to use this quote - teaching - youth counseling - creative workshops Key Concepts character development authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does personal experience limit or enrich storytelling? - Can writers diversify beyond their comfort zones? A Different Perspective May limit exploration of adult perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adult Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adult-started-461381/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Characters Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-young-1586591/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [I realized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-realized/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Main characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/main-characters/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Professional career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-career/) [Pursue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Stories Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories-write-361983/) [Teenager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenager/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Twelve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/twelve/) [Witness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witness/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) [Youth Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth-years-1582045/) ## Related quotes > [We are all the main characters in our stories, so why not write the ending of how it should be ourselves...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-all-the-main-characters-in-our-stories-so-why-not-write-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For fifteen years, I was a teacher of youth. They were years out of the fullness and bloom of my younger manhood. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/for-fifteen-years-i-was-a-teacher-of-youth-they-were-years-out-of-the/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [I haven't won too many championships in my lifetime even through the youth years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-oshie/i-haven-t-won-too-many-championships-in-my-lifetime-even-through-the/) [T. J. Oshie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-oshie/) > [I guess just personally I've become a bolder person in my day-to-day. I think a lot of it came from moving to Brooklyn. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-torres/i-guess-just-personally-i-ve-become-a-bolder-person-in-my-day-to-day/) [Fernando Torres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-torres/) > [I'm lookin' at these Disney characters, these young girls coming out looking like, little whores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-jones/i-m-lookin-at-these-disney-characters-these-young-girls-coming-out/) [Sharon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-jones/) > [I want to play real characters rather than young leads in very plotty things. I want variety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-want-to-play-real-characters-rather-than-young-leads-in-very-plotty/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) > [There's an element of realism to it. I immersed myself more in the subject as a young adult. Then I started to get involved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-sarchie/there-s-an-element-of-realism-to-it-i-immersed-myself-more-in-the/) [Ralph Sarchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-sarchie/) > [Usually my characters, though young, tend to be street-wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/usually-my-characters-though-young-tend-to-be-street-wise/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [Adult started from child; Clever start from stupid; I'm start from my mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/adult-started-from-child-clever-start-from-stupid-i-m-start-from-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Most of the stories I write are women's stories - but the darker, unseen stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-shaw/most-of-the-stories-i-write-are-women-s-stories-but-the-darker-unseen/) [Frankie Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-shaw/) > [I write short stories. I write every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-mustafa/i-write-short-stories-i-write-every-day/) [Isaiah Mustafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-mustafa/) > [I write characters and stories that move me, and I write from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-write-characters-and-stories-that-move-me-and-i-write-from-the-heart/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [“I don't write stories, I write characters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavya-kaushik/i-don-t-write-stories-i-write-characters/) [Bhavya Kaushik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavya-kaushik/) > [“I love making up stories. I love getting lost in other worlds and being with other characters. I love the way I think I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyne-aarsen/i-love-making-up-stories-i-love-getting-lost-in-other-worlds-and/) [Carolyne Aarsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyne-aarsen/) > [“What I like most about the stories I write is exploring other lives and professions. It's a way of having all the jobs I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-fforde/what-i-like-most-about-the-stories-i-write-is-exploring-other-lives/) [Katie Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-fforde/) ## More by Renee Watson > [“The aroma from Mom’s chopped herbs and sprinkled spices swims through the house. The pots are shaking to a boil; the oven is warming.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/the-aroma-from-mom-s-chopped-herbs-and-sprinkled-spices-swims-through/) [Renée Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [“I wonder if any of these boys ever sit in a room for boys' talk night and discuss how to treat women. Who teaches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/i-wonder-if-any-of-these-boys-ever-sit-in-a-room-for-boys-talk-night/) [Renée Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [Picture books are more difficult for me because it is telling a huge story in the least amount of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/picture-books-are-more-difficult-for-me-because-it-is-telling-a-huge/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [One important thing I take away daily is that for all the talk about what youth are not doing - especially young people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/one-important-thing-i-take-away-daily-is-that-for-all-the-talk-about/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [“But when I leave? It happens again. The shattering. And this makes me wonder if a black girl's life is only about being stitched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/but-when-i-leave-it-happens-again-the-shattering-and-this-makes-me/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [“I wonder how he felt at night. When the star-filled sky blanketed him, did he ever think about what his life was like before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/i-wonder-how-he-felt-at-night-when-the-star-filled-sky-blanketed-him/) [Renée Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [Post-publication I have been surprised at the limited resources publishers have to promote books. I certainly knew that being a new author, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/post-publication-i-have-been-surprised-at-the-limited-resources/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [“Those girls are not the opposite of me. We are perpendicular. We may be on different paths, yes. But there’s a place where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/those-girls-are-not-the-opposite-of-me-we-are-perpendicular-we-may-be/) [Renée Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [I have always known that I wanted to work with youth through the arts and I believe the arts can help young people cope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/i-have-always-known-that-i-wanted-to-work-with-youth-through-the-arts/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [I have learned patience, for sure. Pre-publication is a long waiting game, especially for authors of picture books. We write the manuscript, sign the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/i-have-learned-patience-for-sure-pre-publication-is-a-long-waiting/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [“Makes me feel like no matter how dressed up we are, no matter how respectful we are, some people will only see what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/makes-me-feel-like-no-matter-how-dressed-up-we-are-no-matter-how/) [Renée Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [In my writing I hope to have a balance between the good and bad, the hard and soft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/in-my-writing-i-hope-to-have-a-balance-between-the-good-and-bad-the/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [“And this makes me wonder if a black girl’s life is only about being stitched together and coming undone, being stitched together and coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/and-this-makes-me-wonder-if-a-black-girl-s-life-is-only-about-being/) [Renée Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [I teach young people how the arts can be used to stand up against injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/i-teach-young-people-how-the-arts-can-be-used-to-stand-up-against/) [Renee Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) > [“Sometimes it feels like I leave home a whole person, sent off with kisses from Mom, who is hanging her every hope on my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-e-watson/sometimes-it-feels-like-i-leave-home-a-whole-person-sent-off-with/) [Renée Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) [Explore all 26 Renee Watson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-e-watson/) ## More Adults 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/) > [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/) > [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [Almost everywhere we find . . . the use of various coercive measures, to rid ourselves as quickly as possible of the child withinus--i.e.,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/almost-everywhere-we-find-the-use-of-various-coercive-measures-to-rid/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [Education, for most people, means trying to lead the child to resemble the typical adult of his society . . . but for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-piaget/education-for-most-people-means-trying-to-lead-the-child-to-resemble/) [Jean Piaget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-piaget/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [The Role of Deliberate Practice in the Acquisition of Expert Performance”: “The differences between expert performers and normal adults are not immutable, that is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-anders-ericsson/the-role-of-deliberate-practice-in-the-acquisition-of-expert/) [K. Anders Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-anders-ericsson/) > [Part of life is doing stuff that you don't want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/part-of-life-is-doing-stuff-that-you-don-t-want-to-do/) [One Who Does Not Wish To Be Named](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/one-who-does-not-wish-to-be-named/) > [ He \[an earnest young reporter\] seemed to share the view of many intelligent, well-educated, well-meaning people that, while adult literature may aim to be… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-paterson/he-an-earnest-young-reporter-seemed-to-share-the-view-of-many/) [Katherine Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-paterson/) > [Kids, if anything, are harder to write for because they are a more discerning audience. They will not stay with you if you go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/kids-if-anything-are-harder-to-write-for-because-they-are-a-more/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [On the one hand, we had great filmic spectacles that brought in big audiences, adults as well as primary and secondary school students. On…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-wajda/on-the-one-hand-we-had-great-filmic-spectacles-that-brought-in-big/) [Andrzej Wajda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-wajda/) > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) [Browse all 3,113 Adults quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once I became an adult and started to pursue writing as a professional career, I realized my main characters were always young people. My stories naturally center around children and teenagers. I think it's because I have worked with youth for about twelve years. 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