--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no idea why I write. The old…" description: "\"I have no idea why I write. The old standards are: I like to express my feelings, stretch my imagination, earn money.\" — S. E. Hinton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/s-e-hinton-13299_feelings_i-have-no-idea-why-i-write-the-old-stand_1363626.png" --- # I have no idea why I write. The old standards are: I like… ![“I have no idea why I write. The old standards are: I like to express my feelings, stretch my imagination, earn money.” quote by S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/s-e-hinton-13299_feelings_i-have-no-idea-why-i-write-the-old-stand_1363626.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/s-e-hinton-13299_feelings_i-have-no-idea-why-i-write-the-old-stand_1363626.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/55b/s-e-hinton-13299_feelings_i-have-no-idea-why-i-write-the-old-stand_1363626.png) > “I have no idea why I write. The old standards are: I like to express my feelings, stretch my imagination, earn money.” [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing motivations can be unclear, yet personal expression, creativity, and profit drive many writers. **In simple terms:** Writers seek expression, imagination, and income. Key Takeaway Identify your core writing drive. Themes creativity motivation career expression Mood introspective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - authoring - blogging - content creation - freelance work Key Concepts self-discovery financial goals artistic fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - Why do you write? - What balance of art and profit feels right? A Different Perspective Balancing art and commerce can cause conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earn Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earn-money/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Keep up the old standards, and day by day raise them higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wanamaker/keep-up-the-old-standards-and-day-by-day-raise-them-higher/) [John Wanamaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wanamaker/) > [“young people no longer “believe in the old standards and authorities, and they’re not intelligent enough, many of them, to put a code of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-churchwell/young-people-no-longer-believe-in-the-old-standards-and-authorities/) [Sarah Churchwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-churchwell/) > [“You see, unlike most writers today, I do not use a computer. 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To which I used to respond, in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-david/at-conventions-one-of-the-standard-questions-i-get-is-are-you-writing/) [Peter David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-david/) > [I write the lyrics based on what is going on in my life - I'm not going to write about the old hair metal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sykes/i-write-the-lyrics-based-on-what-is-going-on-in-my-life-i-m-not-going/) [Oliver Sykes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sykes/) > [And dazzling memory revive.Refresh the faded tints, Recut the aged prints, And write my old adventures, with the pen Which, on the first day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/and-dazzling-memory-revive-refresh-the-faded-tints-recut-the-aged/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [You grow a whole lot more as a writer by getting old stories out of the house and letting new ones come in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/you-grow-a-whole-lot-more-as-a-writer-by-getting-old-stories-out-of/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [When we write songs, we don't ever sit down to write an Old Dominion song. 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I’d rather bring something new to the table that’s true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronika-carnaby/i-don-t-want-to-re-write-the-same-old-book-with-the-same-tired/) [Veronika Carnaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronika-carnaby/) > [There are things that you write when you're 20 and there are things that you write when you're 40 and then there are things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-carmen/there-are-things-that-you-write-when-you-re-20-and-there-are-things/) [Eric Carmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-carmen/) > [It's been a while since I've written a novel aimed at the adult market, but I never sit down and say to myself, 'Okay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/it-s-been-a-while-since-i-ve-written-a-novel-aimed-at-the-adult/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [I don't want to write any more for the old Man-power instruments and am handicapped by the lack of adequate electrical instruments for which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgard-varese/i-don-t-want-to-write-any-more-for-the-old-man-power-instruments-and/) [Edgard Varese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgard-varese/) ## More by S. E. Hinton > [I learned that if you want to get somewhere, you just make up your mind and work like hell til you get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/i-learned-that-if-you-want-to-get-somewhere-you-just-make-up-your/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [Asleep, he looked a lot younger than going-on-seventeen, but I had noticed that Johnny looked younger when he was asleep too, so I figured…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/asleep-he-looked-a-lot-younger-than-going-on-seventeen-but-i-had/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [Naturally, everything boils down to relationships in my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/naturally-everything-boils-down-to-relationships-in-my-books/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [Since I am first of all a character writer, that character's emotions are as vivid to me as my own. I always begin with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/since-i-am-first-of-all-a-character-writer-that-character-s-emotions/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [Any writer who gives a reader a pleasurable experience is doing every other writer a favor because it will make the reader want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/any-writer-who-gives-a-reader-a-pleasurable-experience-is-doing-every/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [I grew up here and my friends are here. There's nothing wrong with here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/i-grew-up-here-and-my-friends-are-here-there-s-nothing-wrong-with-here/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [I find it to be easier to write from a man's point of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/i-find-it-to-be-easier-to-write-from-a-man-s-point-of-view/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [Stay gold, Ponyboy, stay gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/stay-gold-ponyboy-stay-gold/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [My mother was physically and emotionally abusive. My father was an extremely cold man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/my-mother-was-physically-and-emotionally-abusive-my-father-was-an/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > ['The Outsiders' cast in particular was a joy to be around - sweet kids, normal goofy teenagers off camera and serious artists on. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/the-outsiders-cast-in-particular-was-a-joy-to-be-around-sweet-kids/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [If people want to find me, they can. They'll see a middle-aged woman wandering around the grocery store, looking to see what to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/if-people-want-to-find-me-they-can-they-ll-see-a-middle-aged-woman/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/when-i-stepped-out-into-the-bright-sunlight-from-the-darkness-of-the/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [My goal from being a child was to have a happy home life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/my-goal-from-being-a-child-was-to-have-a-happy-home-life/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [I never base a character on someone I know. You can get ideas from real life, but every character you write is some aspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/i-never-base-a-character-on-someone-i-know-you-can-get-ideas-from/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) > [My boyfriend suggested I write two pages a day. He wouldn't take me out if I hadn't done my two pages. That's how I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-hinton/my-boyfriend-suggested-i-write-two-pages-a-day-he-wouldn-t-take-me/) [S. E. Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) [Explore all 51 S. E. Hinton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-hinton/) ## More Feelings quotes > [I have a strong feeling about this quick movement and changing of society and populations growing - something scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/i-have-a-strong-feeling-about-this-quick-movement-and-changing-of/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [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/) > [We never realize the importance of any our action until we be the hunt of same situation in reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fadi/we-never-realize-the-importance-of-any-our-action-until-we-be-the/) [Fadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fadi/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [If someone really loves you, no matter how many other people they meet, their feelings for you wouldn't change. A real lover cant be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-someone-really-loves-you-no-matter-how-many-other-people-they-meet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. 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It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 21,172 Feelings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have no idea why I write. The old standards are: I like to express my feelings, stretch my imagination, earn money.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "S. E. 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