--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to be compelled to write. If…" description: "\"You have to be compelled to write. If you’re not, nothing else that you do matters.\" — Rick Riordan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/rick-riordan-27_compelled_you-have-to-be-compelled-to-write-if-you_2787013.jpg" --- # You have to be compelled to write. If you’re not, nothing… ![“You have to be compelled to write. If you’re not, nothing else that you do matters.” quote by Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/rick-riordan-27_compelled_you-have-to-be-compelled-to-write-if-you_2787013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/rick-riordan-27_compelled_you-have-to-be-compelled-to-write-if-you_2787013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f70/rick-riordan-27_compelled_you-have-to-be-compelled-to-write-if-you_2787013.jpg) > “You have to be compelled to write. If you’re not, nothing else that you do matters.” [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing must be driven by internal compulsion; otherwise effort feels meaningless. **In simple terms:** Compulsion fuels meaningful work. Key Takeaway Write only when compelled. Themes creativity motivation purpose Mood reflective inspirational Type creative philosophical When to use this quote - author workshops - writing retreats - creative projects Key Concepts artistic drive intrinsic motivation Questions to Reflect On - What drives your creative impulse? - How to recognize true compulsion? A Different Perspective External pressure can also inspire work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Letting you go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-you-go/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I tell aspiring writers that you have to find what you MUST write. When you find it, you will know, because the subject matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-tell-aspiring-writers-that-you-have-to-find-what-you-must-write/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I'm writing out of desperation. I felt compelled to write to make sense of it to myself - so I don't end up saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/i-m-writing-out-of-desperation-i-felt-compelled-to-write-to-make/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [I can't explain inspiration. A writer is either compelled to write or not. And if I waited for inspiration I wouldn't really be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/i-can-t-explain-inspiration-a-writer-is-either-compelled-to-write-or/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [ Isn't it remarkable how everyone who knew \[D.H.\] Lawrence has felt compelled to write about him? Why, he's had more books written about him… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/isn-t-it-remarkable-how-everyone-who-knew-d-h-lawrence-has-felt/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [If people would write exactly what I wanted to read I wouldn't feel so compelled to write myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-people-would-write-exactly-what-i-wanted-to-read-i-wouldn-t-feel/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I don't set out to write a political song. I am not one of those that feels compelled to write about what's going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/i-don-t-set-out-to-write-a-political-song-i-am-not-one-of-those-that/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [I still encourage anyone who feels at all compelled to write to do so. I just try to warn people who hope to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-still-encourage-anyone-who-feels-at-all-compelled-to-write-to-do-so/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [There have been times in my life when I felt compelled to write things down as a matter of therapy, but whatever I kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/there-have-been-times-in-my-life-when-i-felt-compelled-to-write/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I'm not trying to get across some sort of message or statement. I'm just literally trying to write the best songs I can write.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-lewis/i-m-not-trying-to-get-across-some-sort-of-message-or-statement-i-m/) [Dean Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-lewis/) > [“Why did I write it down? In order to remember, of course, but exactly what was it I wanted to remember? How much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/why-did-i-write-it-down-in-order-to-remember-of-course-but-exactly/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I think it's more honest, true to life, to write about serious matters. And also not to do something that's gentle. I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-jenkin/i-think-it-s-more-honest-true-to-life-to-write-about-serious-matters/) Guy Jenkin > [You just never know if people out there will relate to things when you write them; it matters to you, and to some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-crowe/you-just-never-know-if-people-out-there-will-relate-to-things-when/) [Cameron Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-crowe/) > [My theory is that in the age of the internet, it's what you write, not where you write it, that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/my-theory-is-that-in-the-age-of-the-internet-it-s-what-you-write-not/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [“We should be told: Write fast, write close to the bone, write for ten hours straight until you’re not thinking in words anymore, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-friedman/we-should-be-told-write-fast-write-close-to-the-bone-write-for-ten/) [Bonnie Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-friedman/) > [So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/so-long-as-you-write-what-you-wish-to-write-that-is-all-that-matters/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More by Rick Riordan > [“It made sense, and I felt kind of stupid. I’d been hanging around dryads”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-made-sense-and-i-felt-kind-of-stupid-i-d-been-hanging-around-dryads/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“That awkward moment when you jump out a window because your friend jumped out a window, then you remember that your other friend can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-awkward-moment-when-you-jump-out-a-window-because-your-friend/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [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/) > [“He started toward the entrance. Seriously, how could he not? He stopped when he noticed the girl. She was kneeling in her vegetable garden,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-started-toward-the-entrance-seriously-how-could-he-not-he-stopped/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“When you take someone’s hand and lead them to Valhalla, you get a glimpse into their soul.” “Did that happen when you took me?”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/when-you-take-someone-s-hand-and-lead-them-to-valhalla-you-get-a/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“he didn’t look as good as Piper had last night after she’d suddenly been transformed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/he-didn-t-look-as-good-as-piper-had-last-night-after-she-d-suddenly/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [There’s my baby!” I cried, quite carried away. “There’s my Poochiekins!” Ammit ran at me and leaped into my arms, nuzzling me with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/there-s-my-baby-i-cried-quite-carried-away-there-s-my-poochiekins/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Leo plunked the cheese wheel in front of me. "Cut me a wedge of this, my good ma. Chop-chop!" I scowled at him. "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/leo-plunked-the-cheese-wheel-in-front-of-me-cut-me-a-wedge-of-this-my/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [It's all still about having a good story. You have to have a good story as your anchor, as your main focus. So for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/it-s-all-still-about-having-a-good-story-you-have-to-have-a-good/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [I disobeyed Ra's wishes, and so he ordered my onw father, Shu-" "Hang on," I said. "Shoe?" "S-h-u," she said. "The god of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-disobeyed-ra-s-wishes-and-so-he-ordered-my-onw-father-shu-hang-on-i/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Nico knelt and picked it up. He regarded Jason, as if waiting for an attack. "If the others found out-" "If the others found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/nico-knelt-and-picked-it-up-he-regarded-jason-as-if-waiting-for-an/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Wouldn't that put a twist in your toga?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/wouldn-t-that-put-a-twist-in-your-toga/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [ \[Hazel\] hissed in frustration. 'I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away.' 'Oh...' Frank said, like he'd just had his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hazel-hissed-in-frustration-i-hate-eidolons-i-thought-piper-made-them/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) [Explore all 2,993 Rick Riordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) ## More Compelled quotes > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [When I think of God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-i-think-of-god-s-kingdom-i-am-compelled-to-be-silent-because-of/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [Ordinary citizens are obliged and, if need be, compelled by force to meet their commitments. But let higher obligations of an international order be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-albert-gobat/ordinary-citizens-are-obliged-and-if-need-be-compelled-by-force-to/) [Charles Albert Gobat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-albert-gobat/) > [Untethered technology gives us the freedom to do nearly anything, anytime, anywhere. It can also enslave us - we feel compelled to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-stone/untethered-technology-gives-us-the-freedom-to-do-nearly-anything/) [Linda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-stone/) > [He who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exemplify the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-i/he-who-is-required-by-the-necessity-of-his-position-to-speak-the/) [Pope Gregory I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-i/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [ I've written a lot of other books and this book \[Tears we cannot stop\] was different. I couldn't just say what I wanted to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-ve-written-a-lot-of-other-books-and-this-book-tears-we-cannot-stop/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [See with what force yon river's crystal stream Resists the weight of many a massy beam. To sink the wood the more we vainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/see-with-what-force-yon-river-s-crystal-stream-resists-the-weight-of/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [“The more helpless she was, the more he would feel compelled to protect her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-helpless-she-was-the-more-he-would-feel-compelled-to-protect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I love different sorts of people, their stories, all the different facets, that make them, them. This is entwined with how I am compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-cairney/i-love-different-sorts-of-people-their-stories-all-the-different/) [Gemma Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-cairney/) > [The most deeply compelled action is also the freest action. By that I mean, no part of you is outside the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-most-deeply-compelled-action-is-also-the-freest-action-by-that-i/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [It's a mission for me to make sure that philanthropy doesn't feel like a vintage hand-me-down from mom or dad. I want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/it-s-a-mission-for-me-to-make-sure-that-philanthropy-doesn-t-feel/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [Operas elucidate, in a way sometimes absent in other theatrical productions, the very human fact that in every hero, there is a thread of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/operas-elucidate-in-a-way-sometimes-absent-in-other-theatrical/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [The first thing, when I read the script, is that I need to care about what happens and feel compelled by the story and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-sheen/the-first-thing-when-i-read-the-script-is-that-i-need-to-care-about/) [Michael Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-sheen/) > [God has not made this world to be a nest for us, and if we try to make it such for ourselves, he plants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/god-has-not-made-this-world-to-be-a-nest-for-us-and-if-we-try-to-make/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) Browse all 515 Compelled quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have to be compelled to write. 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