--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're writing, it's rather like…" description: "\"When you're writing, it's rather like going on a very long walk\" — Roald Dahl" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/roald-dahl-899_long_when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-goi_1916447.jpg" --- # When you're writing, it's rather like going on a very long… ![“When you're writing, it's rather like going on a very long walk” quote by Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/roald-dahl-899_long_when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-goi_1916447.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/roald-dahl-899_long_when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-goi_1916447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/roald-dahl-899_long_when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-goi_1916447.jpg) > “When you're writing, it's rather like going on a very long walk” [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is a gradual, enduring process similar to a long walk, requiring persistence. **In simple terms:** Writing takes time and steady effort. Key Takeaway Treat writing as a long, steady journey. Themes creativity persistence process Mood inspirational thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - novel writing - daily journaling - blogging - script development Key Concepts narrative flow discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain stamina in long projects? - What fuels your creative momentum? A Different Perspective Comparing writing to a walk may overlook bursts of inspiration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Going Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-long/) [Like Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-going/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-walk/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-like/) ## Related quotes > [“When you're writing a book, it's rather like going on a very long walk, across valleys and mountains and things, and you get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-you-re-writing-a-book-it-s-rather-like-going-on-a-very-long-walk-2/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [ When you're writing a book, it's rather like going on a very long walk, across valleys and mountains and things \[...\] The highest mountain… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-you-re-writing-a-book-it-s-rather-like-going-on-a-very-long-walk/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [I will try to keep going as long as I can. I'd love to play until the age of 40 - it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-anderson/i-will-try-to-keep-going-as-long-as-i-can-i-d-love-to-play-until-the/) [James Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-anderson/) > [I learned that a long walk and calm conversation are an incredible combination if you want to build a bridge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-learned-that-a-long-walk-and-calm-conversation-are-an-incredible/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Happiness is a long walk with a putter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-norman/happiness-is-a-long-walk-with-a-putter/) [Greg Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-norman/) > [I have promised myself that I'm going to do everything I can for as long as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-thunburg/i-have-promised-myself-that-i-m-going-to-do-everything-i-can-for-as/) [Greta Thunburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-thunburg/) > [Try to do some cool things while you can because it's not going to last too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/try-to-do-some-cool-things-while-you-can-because-it-s-not-going-to/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [It is the love of my fans, friends and well-wishers that has kept me going for so long. I hope that is never taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharmendra/it-is-the-love-of-my-fans-friends-and-well-wishers-that-has-kept-me/) [Dharmendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharmendra/) > [“This is going to take a long time. . . Can't take no more, Wonder if you'll understand it's just the touch of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince-clarke/this-is-going-to-take-a-long-time-can-t-take-no-more-wonder-if-you-ll/) [Vince Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince-clarke/) > [You have to prove yourself every snap. Otherwise you ain't going to last long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leighton-vander-esch/you-have-to-prove-yourself-every-snap-otherwise-you-ain-t-going-to/) [Leighton Vander Esch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leighton-vander-esch/) > [ “You don't get it, do you? \[...\] We're going to be together for a long time. There's no need to rush things when you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-dodd/you-don-t-get-it-do-you-we-re-going-to-be-together-for-a-long-time/) [Jillian Dodd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-dodd/) > [Football is my job, not my life, but it's a job I'm going to give my all for as long as I'm in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/football-is-my-job-not-my-life-but-it-s-a-job-i-m-going-to-give-my/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [If you can't take a hit, you're not going to last long, that's for sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/if-you-can-t-take-a-hit-you-re-not-going-to-last-long-that-s-for-sure/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [To me, in this league, if your only motivation is what everyone else says, you're probably not going to be here that long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-flores/to-me-in-this-league-if-your-only-motivation-is-what-everyone-else/) [Brian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-flores/) > [When I get in there, I try to really make sure there's no quit in me and that whoever I fight is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ortega/when-i-get-in-there-i-try-to-really-make-sure-there-s-no-quit-in-me/) [Brian Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ortega/) ## More by Roald Dahl > [Nowadays you can go anywhere in the world in a few hours, and nothing is fabulous any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/nowadays-you-can-go-anywhere-in-the-world-in-a-few-hours-and-nothing/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [When I walked to school in the mornings I would start out alone but would pick up four other boys along the way. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-i-walked-to-school-in-the-mornings-i-would-start-out-alone-but/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“There's no earthly way of knowing Which direction we are going There's no knowing where we're rowing Or which way the river's flowing Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/there-s-no-earthly-way-of-knowing-which-direction-we-are-going-there/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“One of the vital things for a writer who’s writing a book, which is a lengthy project and is going to take about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/one-of-the-vital-things-for-a-writer-who-s-writing-a-book-which-is-a/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“When Bruce Bogtrotter had eaten his way through half of the entire enormous cake, he paused for just a couple of seconds and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-bruce-bogtrotter-had-eaten-his-way-through-half-of-the-entire/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Eschew all those beastly adjectives...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/eschew-all-those-beastly-adjectives/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Bunkum and tummyrot! You'll never get anywhere if you go about what-iffing like that. Would Columbus have discovered America if he'd said 'What if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/bunkum-and-tummyrot-you-ll-never-get-anywhere-if-you-go-about-what/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [If the Good Lord intended for us to walk, he wouldn't have invented rollar skates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/if-the-good-lord-intended-for-us-to-walk-he-wouldn-t-have-invented/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [The witching hour, somebody had once whispered to her, was a special moment in the middle of the night when every child and every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/the-witching-hour-somebody-had-once-whispered-to-her-was-a-special/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/those-who-don-t-believe-in-magic-will-never-find-it/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [But there was one other thing that the grown-ups also knew, and it was this: that however small the chance might be of striking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/but-there-was-one-other-thing-that-the-grown-ups-also-knew-and-it-was/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [When writing about oneself, one must strive to be truthful. Truth is more important than modesty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-writing-about-oneself-one-must-strive-to-be-truthful-truth-is/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“the world is a scary place for such a small child”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/the-world-is-a-scary-place-for-such-a-small-child/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [And above all, watch with glittering eyes the world around you, because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/and-above-all-watch-with-glittering-eyes-the-world-around-you-because/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) > [“We must hurry!’ said Mr. Wonka. ‘We have so much time and so little to do! No! Wait! Strike that! Reverse it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/we-must-hurry-said-mr-wonka-we-have-so-much-time-and-so-little-to-do/) [Roald Dahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) [Explore all 318 Roald Dahl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/) ## More Long quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [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/) > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [Long before the 2016 presidential campaign, confidential sources had alerted me to longstanding misuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court system and the erosion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/long-before-the-2016-presidential-campaign-confidential-sources-had/) [Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/) > [History has often showed us the strength of the forces that are unleashed by the yearning for freedom. It moved people to overcome their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-merkel/history-has-often-showed-us-the-strength-of-the-forces-that-are/) [Angela Merkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-merkel/) > [From as long as I can remember, I was always fond of drawing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/from-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-was-always-fond-of-drawing/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) [Browse all 39,551 Long quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you're writing, it's rather like going on a very long walk", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roald Dahl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-going-on-a-very-long-walk/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Long" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-going-on-a-very-long-walk/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/roald-dahl-899_long_when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-goi_1916447.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/roald-dahl-899_long_when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-goi_1916447.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d22/roald-dahl-899_long_when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-goi_1916447.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you're writing, it's rather like going on a very long walk” — Roald Dahl", "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": "Roald Dahl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roald-dahl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you're writing, it's rather like...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-going-on-a-very-long-walk/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roald-dahl/when-you-re-writing-it-s-rather-like-going-on-a-very-long-walk/#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 } } ] } ```