--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I’ve written for the waste basket so…" description: "\"“I’ve written for the waste basket so often that we’ve become friends. He writes too, but it’s mostly garbage.”\" — Ryan Lilly" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/ryan-lilly-9302_failure_i-ve-written-for-the-waste-basket-so-oft_1790254.jpg" --- # I’ve written for the waste basket so often that we’ve… ![“I’ve written for the waste basket so often that we’ve become friends. He writes too, but it’s mostly garbage.” quote by Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/ryan-lilly-9302_failure_i-ve-written-for-the-waste-basket-so-oft_1790254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/ryan-lilly-9302_failure_i-ve-written-for-the-waste-basket-so-oft_1790254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/ryan-lilly-9302_failure_i-ve-written-for-the-waste-basket-so-oft_1790254.jpg) > ““I’ve written for the waste basket so often that we’ve become friends. He writes too, but it’s mostly garbage.”” [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Frequent drafts become familiar companions, yet most are discarded as low quality. **In simple terms:** Writing involves many bad attempts before good ones. Key Takeaway Embrace the messy drafts. Themes creativity writing process perseverance humor Mood self‑critical light‑hearted Type creative process reflective When to use this quote - novel writing - blog posts - screenplays - academic papers Key Concepts drafting editing creative block Questions to Reflect On - How many drafts do you need before feeling satisfied? - What can you learn from the “garbage” you discard? A Different Perspective Too much self‑criticism can stifle output. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Perseverance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perseverance/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Every book is, in an intimate sense, a circular-letter to the friends of him who writes it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/every-book-is-in-an-intimate-sense-a-circular-letter-to-the-friends/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [“Across my life only one work will be written: "waste" \_ waste of love, waste of talent, waste of enterprise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-trefusis/across-my-life-only-one-work-will-be-written-waste-waste-of-love/) [Violet Trefusis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-trefusis/) > [“Across my life only one word will be written: "waste" - waste of life, waste of talent, waste of enterprise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-trefusis/across-my-life-only-one-word-will-be-written-waste-waste-of-life/) [Violet Trefusis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-trefusis/) > [The waste basket is the writer's best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-bashevis-singer/the-waste-basket-is-the-writer-s-best-friend/) [Isaac Bashevis Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-bashevis-singer/) > [“One of the most necessary things when you're writing? The waste basket.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enkelejd-lamaj/one-of-the-most-necessary-things-when-you-re-writing-the-waste-basket/) [Enkelejd Lamaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enkelejd-lamaj/) > [“Where do you think my new novel is? In the waste basket. 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We are members of the One-Hundred-and-First Airborne…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shafter-bailey/good-morning-one-of-the-soldiers-said-i-m-captain-joseph-walker-and/) [Shafter Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shafter-bailey/) > [It doesn't matter what your circumstances are at the present moment. Think positively, expect only favorable results and situations, and circumstances will change accordingly.Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/it-doesn-t-matter-what-your-circumstances-are-at-the-present-moment/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“I met Suffering on a quiet road, just as the sun was setting behind me. Its presence was heavy, like an old coat I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/i-met-suffering-on-a-quiet-road-just-as-the-sun-was-setting-behind-me/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) ## More by Ryan Lilly > [“I've never written a quote I feel would be suitable for my gravestone. Wouldn't it be ironic if it were this one? Oh, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-ve-never-written-a-quote-i-feel-would-be-suitable-for-my-gravestone/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Contributors and distributors tend to do better at personal branding than takers and fakers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/contributors-and-distributors-tend-to-do-better-at-personal-branding/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Be a pro at what you do. No one shows-up to meetings of the Unsuccessful Skydivers Club.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/be-a-pro-at-what-you-do-no-one-shows-up-to-meetings-of-the/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Personal brands are determined by a track record of actions, not a track record of plans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/personal-brands-are-determined-by-a-track-record-of-actions-not-a/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Don't simply dream, create. Don't simply create, ship. Don't simply ship, dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/don-t-simply-dream-create-don-t-simply-create-ship-don-t-simply-ship/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Yeast is to flour as action is to ambition. Rising to success requires adding and alternating starters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/yeast-is-to-flour-as-action-is-to-ambition-rising-to-success-requires/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“My greatest expectation is that I expect more of myself than anyone could expect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/my-greatest-expectation-is-that-i-expect-more-of-myself-than-anyone/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“There’s been a lot written on the topic of minimalism. But I still believe in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/there-s-been-a-lot-written-on-the-topic-of-minimalism-but-i-still/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“The one thing all entrepreneurs have in common is that they started. The one thing everyone else has in common is that they haven’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/the-one-thing-all-entrepreneurs-have-in-common-is-that-they-started/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Sensible brands lend themselves to all of the senses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/sensible-brands-lend-themselves-to-all-of-the-senses/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“You can't force creatives into a box. If you try, they'll no longer be creative. And no one will want your box.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/you-can-t-force-creatives-into-a-box-if-you-try-they-ll-no-longer-be/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Those without passion are often passed and shunned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/those-without-passion-are-often-passed-and-shunned/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Jarod Kintz gets so many retweets, he’s like Katniss Everdeen with tourettes in a forest full of Mockingjays.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/jarod-kintz-gets-so-many-retweets-he-s-like-katniss-everdeen-with/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“Yesterday is a pile of rubble. Today is a pile of opportunity. Life takes a new dump each morning”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/yesterday-is-a-pile-of-rubble-today-is-a-pile-of-opportunity-life/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [“I like to go to Starbucks and watch the intellectuals. I observe them and their intellectualness. They in turn observe me drinking coffee and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-like-to-go-to-starbucks-and-watch-the-intellectuals-i-observe-them/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) [Explore all 74 Ryan Lilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) ## More Failure quotes > [When you do things they're absolutely right at that time for you and it can always teach you something about yourself. You can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kym-marsh/when-you-do-things-they-re-absolutely-right-at-that-time-for-you-and/) [Kym Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kym-marsh/) > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... Sometimes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/failures-happen-you-can-t-cry-over-them-you-just-take-it-in-your/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Rhiannon's Law #28: If you're going to fuck up, be sure to fuck up good and proper. Nothing makes failure acceptable, so you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rhiannon-s-law-28-if-you-re-going-to-fuck-up-be-sure-to-fuck-up-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Failure is a part of life and you have to learn to deal with it. Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [First action was a mistake. What about the second? third? fourth and fifth?...Mehn you are bad...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-action-was-a-mistake-what-about-the-second-third-fourth-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God's love never fail :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-s-love-never-fail/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don’t you just hate nights like that, when you think over every mistake you’ve made, every hurt you’ve received, every bit of meanness you’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/don-t-you-just-hate-nights-like-that-when-you-think-over-every/) [Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/) > [“Our failure to understand another being's inner reality doesn't make that reality any less real, or any less valuable to that being. (p.255)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-schulz/our-failure-to-understand-another-being-s-inner-reality-doesn-t-make/) [Kathryn Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-schulz/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Don't take too much comfort in the fact that you're successful today because tomorrow could bring failure. There's no surety in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/don-t-take-too-much-comfort-in-the-fact-that-you-re-successful-today/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [As we are coming to the end of the year, I want you to forget about the past, the failure, the negative thoughts or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-are-coming-to-the-end-of-the-year-i-want-you-to-forget-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 27,498 Failure quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I’ve written for the waste basket so often that we’ve become friends. 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