--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a writer myself, my job has very often…" description: "\"As a writer myself, my job has very often been to also write on the job. So you get the script and a vague idea of how the scene might work, and you th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a9/sally-phillips-12985_actor_as-a-writer-myself-my-job-has-very-often_2444959.png" --- # As a writer myself, my job has very often been to also… ![“As a writer myself, my job has very often been to also write on the job. So you get the script and a vague idea of how the scene might work, and you then add funny words or change the script. I'm not the world's best writer or the world's best actor, but I can do that thing where I can fix - or…” quote by Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a9/sally-phillips-12985_actor_as-a-writer-myself-my-job-has-very-often_2444959.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a9/sally-phillips-12985_actor_as-a-writer-myself-my-job-has-very-often_2444959.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a9/sally-phillips-12985_actor_as-a-writer-myself-my-job-has-very-often_2444959.png) > “As a writer myself, my job has very often been to also write on the job. So you get the script and a vague idea of how the scene might work, and you then add funny words or change the script. I'm not the world's best writer or the world's best actor, but I can do that thing where I can fix - or ruin - fix-slash-ruin, add quirk, add value.” [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing often involves improvising on existing scripts, adding humor or twists, even if not a top writer or actor. **In simple terms:** Improvising on scripts adds humor, despite limited expertise. Key Takeaway Use improvisation to enhance creative work. Themes creativity improvisation collaboration Mood playful energetic Type advice humorous When to use this quote - script development - stand‑up comedy - workshop - team projects Key Concepts theatre writing performance Questions to Reflect On - When should you preserve the original script? - How do you balance humor with respect for the source? 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That's a law. That's a given. So you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/the-best-script-in-the-world-doesn-t-work-perfectly-when-you-actually/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I write. This is what I do. My job is to sit down with my vocabulary, select words, and decide what order they should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-zweibel/i-write-this-is-what-i-do-my-job-is-to-sit-down-with-my-vocabulary/) [Alan Zweibel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-zweibel/) > [A professional writer is a joke. You write because you can't do anything else, and then you have another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/a-professional-writer-is-a-joke-you-write-because-you-can-t-do/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [A book comes and says, 'Write me.' My job is to try to serve it to the best of my ability, which is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/a-book-comes-and-says-write-me-my-job-is-to-try-to-serve-it-to-the/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [I write a tiny fraction of what I used to write. My only job used to be to just write songs, and that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-spektor/i-write-a-tiny-fraction-of-what-i-used-to-write-my-only-job-used-to/) [Regina Spektor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-spektor/) > [When you write for a show that's not yours, your job is to hear the voices of the characters and write as best you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sherman-palladino/when-you-write-for-a-show-that-s-not-yours-your-job-is-to-hear-the/) [Amy Sherman-Palladino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sherman-palladino/) > [When you're on a staff, it's not your job to write what you think is funny. It's your job to write what the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-lawrence/when-you-re-on-a-staff-it-s-not-your-job-to-write-what-you-think-is/) [Billy Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-lawrence/) > [It's absolutely a dream job to get to write for Gwen Stacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/it-s-absolutely-a-dream-job-to-get-to-write-for-gwen-stacy/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [I think it's hard to have a full-time job and write fiction, but for essays, you need to be in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-think-it-s-hard-to-have-a-full-time-job-and-write-fiction-but-for/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [My only job is to write in such a way that the reader gets a new handle on humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-steinbeck/my-only-job-is-to-write-in-such-a-way-that-the-reader-gets-a-new/) [Thomas Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-steinbeck/) > [I didn’t do anything. I don’t have an explanation, I don’t know why I wanted to write. I did some short stories at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/i-didn-t-do-anything-i-don-t-have-an-explanation-i-don-t-know-why-i/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [My first job is to write the characters as full and authentic people as well as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-zarr/my-first-job-is-to-write-the-characters-as-full-and-authentic-people/) [Sara Zarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-zarr/) > [Why do you want to become an author? I will accept only one answer. If it is because you feel you can write better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ngaio-marsh/why-do-you-want-to-become-an-author-i-will-accept-only-one-answer-if/) [Ngaio Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ngaio-marsh/) > [I knew I wasn't the sort of person who could do a full-time job and write in the evening and at weekends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-jewell/i-knew-i-wasn-t-the-sort-of-person-who-could-do-a-full-time-job-and/) [Lisa Jewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-jewell/) ## More by Sally Phillips > [My mum's from Yorkshire and my parents aren't snotty or posh - they're very hard workers, both of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/my-mum-s-from-yorkshire-and-my-parents-aren-t-snotty-or-posh-they-re/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I'm not sure my achievements have been 'great.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-m-not-sure-my-achievements-have-been-great/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I'm very devoted to my kids - I'm completely blind to their faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-m-very-devoted-to-my-kids-i-m-completely-blind-to-their-faults/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I tell people that I'm a Christian, but I don't think it's giving an insight into who I am or what I'm about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-tell-people-that-i-m-a-christian-but-i-don-t-think-it-s-giving-an/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I've got spider veins all over my legs, so I wear opaque tights all winter. All sorts of colours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-ve-got-spider-veins-all-over-my-legs-so-i-wear-opaque-tights-all/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I don't get star-struck at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-don-t-get-star-struck-at-all/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I have a lot of funny friends, though not everyone's funny all the time. Doon Mackichan's my funniest friend in the pub; Nina Conti's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-have-a-lot-of-funny-friends-though-not-everyone-s-funny-all-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I truly would love to be a designer-label girl, but I am very much High Street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-truly-would-love-to-be-a-designer-label-girl-but-i-am-very-much/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [All I want to do really is get married and be a matriarch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/all-i-want-to-do-really-is-get-married-and-be-a-matriarch/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I never ever Google myself. That way madness lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-never-ever-google-myself-that-way-madness-lies/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I don't have the self-discipline for diets; I break rules I set for myself, so I try and eat more healthily, juice more, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-don-t-have-the-self-discipline-for-diets-i-break-rules-i-set-for/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I'm feeling incredibly Botox-tempted as my face collapses around my shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-m-feeling-incredibly-botox-tempted-as-my-face-collapses-around-my/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [I definitely used to write a lot at school. Comic poetry and drawings about people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/i-definitely-used-to-write-a-lot-at-school-comic-poetry-and-drawings/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [My mother always worked and thought staying at home was a bit twee, and that you should get your act together and do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/my-mother-always-worked-and-thought-staying-at-home-was-a-bit-twee/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) [Explore all 52 Sally Phillips quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [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/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a writer myself, my job has very often been to also write on the job. So you get the script and a vague idea of how the scene might work, and you then add funny words or change the script. 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