--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It took time to learn that the hard thing…" description: "\"It took time to learn that the hard thing about writing is to let the story write itself, while one sits at the typewriter and does as little thinking ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/richard-bach-424_beginners_it-took-time-to-learn-that-the-hard-thin_2309603.jpg" --- # It took time to learn that the hard thing about writing is… ![“It took time to learn that the hard thing about writing is to let the story write itself, while one sits at the typewriter and does as little thinking as possible. It happened over and over again, and the beginner learned - when you start puzzling over an idea, and slowing down on the keys, the…” quote by Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/richard-bach-424_beginners_it-took-time-to-learn-that-the-hard-thin_2309603.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/richard-bach-424_beginners_it-took-time-to-learn-that-the-hard-thin_2309603.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9db/richard-bach-424_beginners_it-took-time-to-learn-that-the-hard-thin_2309603.jpg) > “It took time to learn that the hard thing about writing is to let the story write itself, while one sits at the typewriter and does as little thinking as possible. It happened over and over again, and the beginner learned - when you start puzzling over an idea, and slowing down on the keys, the writing gets worse and worse.” [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing improves when you stop overthinking and let the narrative flow naturally, rather than forcing it with excessive analysis. **In simple terms:** Stop overthinking; let the story flow. Key Takeaway Write freely, avoid overanalysis. Themes creativity writing process mindset Mood reflective inspired Type advice process. When to use this quote - first drafts - daily journaling - novel writing - screenwriting Key Concepts flow state authorial intuition creative block Questions to Reflect On - How can you trust the subconscious in writing? - What habits help you stay in a flow state? A Different Perspective If you over-analyze, you may stall and lose authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beginners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginners/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Hard things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-things/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Keys Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys-writing-5480443/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Puzzling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/puzzling/) [Slow down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow-down/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Thing Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-writing/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Typewriter Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriter-does-5480444/) [Typewriters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/typewriters/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“one of the keys to writing is to live a life worth writing about.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-keys-to-writing-is-to-live-a-life-worth-writing-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The big thing about writing is three commands: Have fun. Don't think. Don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-big-thing-about-writing-is-three-commands-have-fun-don-t-think/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The great thing about writing is, if you don't like the world, we'll create a different one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-great-thing-about-writing-is-if-you-don-t-like-the-world-we-ll/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [When I'm writing it's as if I'm the observer. It's as if that computer screen there -it used to be the typewriter - just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/when-i-m-writing-it-s-as-if-i-m-the-observer-it-s-as-if-that-computer/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [What a story that would make! How many men and women go through the same rivers, menaced by the same sharp clichés, the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/what-a-story-that-would-make-how-many-men-and-women-go-through-the/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The hardest thing about writing a script is you finish it, but it doesn't mean anything. It's not like a novel or short story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-carey/the-hardest-thing-about-writing-a-script-is-you-finish-it-but-it/) [Maggie Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-carey/) > [“One thing about writing this much… her brain never really shifted out of The World of Mages. When she sat down to write, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/one-thing-about-writing-this-much-her-brain-never-really-shifted-out/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I think the crucial thing in the writing career is to find what you want to do and how you fit in. What somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/i-think-the-crucial-thing-in-the-writing-career-is-to-find-what-you/) [James A. Michener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-michener/) > [What's the best thing you can do for your writing? Construct a boring life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/what-s-the-best-thing-you-can-do-for-your-writing-construct-a-boring/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [That's one of the great thing about writing is that you get to be in someone's head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-conrad/that-s-one-of-the-great-thing-about-writing-is-that-you-get-to-be-in/) [Lauren Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-conrad/) > [The great thing about writing compared to life is getting to tie things up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-atkinson/the-great-thing-about-writing-compared-to-life-is-getting-to-tie/) [Kate Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-atkinson/) > [My prescription for writer's block is to face the fact that there is no such thing… Writing well is difficult, but one can always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mallon/my-prescription-for-writer-s-block-is-to-face-the-fact-that-there-is/) [Thomas Mallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mallon/) > [There have been times when I've written something and it goes out and it comes back in a letter from some kid as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/there-have-been-times-when-i-ve-written-something-and-it-goes-out-and/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [It's a funny thing about writing. You get so balled up in a story idea that you lose your perspective and forget that human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-reilly/it-s-a-funny-thing-about-writing-you-get-so-balled-up-in-a-story-idea/) [Gary Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-reilly/) > [The thing about writing or making art is that I'm not thinking about that stuff while I'm doing it. Like the driver's ed kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-martin/the-thing-about-writing-or-making-art-is-that-i-m-not-thinking-about/) [Chelsea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-martin/) ## More by Richard Bach > [“Heaven is not a place, and it's not a time. Heaven is being perfect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/heaven-is-not-a-place-and-it-s-not-a-time-heaven-is-being-perfect/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [You'd chosen to be an upright biped on the surface of a small planet of a minor sun on the edge of a minor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/you-d-chosen-to-be-an-upright-biped-on-the-surface-of-a-small-planet/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Your harshest truths are dreams, and your gentlest dreams are true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/your-harshest-truths-are-dreams-and-your-gentlest-dreams-are-true/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [“Happiness is a choice. It is not always an easy one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/happiness-is-a-choice-it-is-not-always-an-easy-one/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/argue-for-your-limitations-and-sure-enough-they-re-yours/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The world is a dream, you say, and it’s lovely, sometimes. Sunset. Clouds. Sky.” “No. The image is a dream. The beauty is real.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-world-is-a-dream-you-say-and-it-s-lovely-sometimes-sunset-clouds/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The original sin is to limit the Is. Don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-original-sin-is-to-limit-the-is-don-t/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Silly ideas, worth the admission price in smiles, but they're true. Is high-energy physics interesting because it's true or because it's crazy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/silly-ideas-worth-the-admission-price-in-smiles-but-they-re-true-is/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-best-way-to-pay-for-a-lovely-moment-is-to-enjoy-it/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I am tired of clinging. Though I cannot see it with my eyes, I trust that the current knows where it is going. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/i-am-tired-of-clinging-though-i-cannot-see-it-with-my-eyes-i-trust/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [If you want to meet someone who can fix any situation you don't like, who can bring you happiness in spite of what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/if-you-want-to-meet-someone-who-can-fix-any-situation-you-don-t-like/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The space for what you want is already filled with what you settled for instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-space-for-what-you-want-is-already-filled-with-what-you-settled/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Part of us is always the observer, and no matter what, it observes. It watches us. It does not care if we are happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/part-of-us-is-always-the-observer-and-no-matter-what-it-observes-it/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [Kindle Singles is publishing on skates. It prints like lightning; our book meets readers in hours. I've spent so many years waiting for publishers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/kindle-singles-is-publishing-on-skates-it-prints-like-lightning-our/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) [Explore all 539 Richard Bach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) ## More Beginners quotes > [The whole secret to mastering the game of golf - and this applies to the beginner as well as the pro - is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/the-whole-secret-to-mastering-the-game-of-golf-and-this-applies-to/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [“Personally, I believe in tools that close the gap between professionals and beginners, understanding that — push comes to shove — this is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-busche/personally-i-believe-in-tools-that-close-the-gap-between/) [Laura Busche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-busche/) > [Readers take in dialogue one thought at a time. A frequent mistake of beginners is to combine thoughts, which may be suitable for other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-stein/readers-take-in-dialogue-one-thought-at-a-time-a-frequent-mistake-of/) [Sol Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-stein/) > [Mr. Presley has no discernible singing ability. His specialty is rhythm songs which he renders in an undistinguished whine; his phrasing, if it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-gould/mr-presley-has-no-discernible-singing-ability-his-specialty-is-rhythm/) [Jack Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-gould/) > [There never was a winner, who wasn't a beginner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/there-never-was-a-winner-who-wasn-t-a-beginner/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [If the angel deigns to come it will be because you have convinced her, not by tears but by your humble resolve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/if-the-angel-deigns-to-come-it-will-be-because-you-have-convinced-her/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [I know now that everybody in the arts is forever a beginner. Experience counts for a great deal and very little. Every night onstage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-know-now-that-everybody-in-the-arts-is-forever-a-beginner/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Starting out in a beginner class and really understanding the fundamentals of yoga is really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariel-hemingway/starting-out-in-a-beginner-class-and-really-understanding-the/) [Mariel Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariel-hemingway/) > [I thought yoga was easy - I went out and I bought a yoga video tape. I bought the beginners' yoga tape. I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/i-thought-yoga-was-easy-i-went-out-and-i-bought-a-yoga-video-tape-i/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [Amateurs look for challenges; professionals look for easy trades. Losers get high from the action; the pros look for the best odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-elder/amateurs-look-for-challenges-professionals-look-for-easy-trades/) [Alexander Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-elder/) > [A fiery, good beginner always stands higher than a master in mediocrity...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schumann/a-fiery-good-beginner-always-stands-higher-than-a-master-in-mediocrity/) [Robert Schumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schumann/) > [Indeed, being a beginner is very difficult right now. Book publishers are in a crisis, sales are dwindling, and publishing houses are losing money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/indeed-being-a-beginner-is-very-difficult-right-now-book-publishers/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gichin-funakoshi/beginners-must-master-low-stance-and-posture-natural-body-positions/) [Gichin Funakoshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gichin-funakoshi/) > [If he ever had a bright idea it would be beginner's luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lashner/if-he-ever-had-a-bright-idea-it-would-be-beginner-s-luck/) [William Lashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lashner/) > [I would not be happy if I could not become a monk. They call it the beginner's mind - the deep intention, the deepest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-could-not-become-a-monk-they-call-it-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Browse all 220 Beginners quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginners/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It took time to learn that the hard thing about writing is to let the story write itself, while one sits at the typewriter and does as little thinking as possible. 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