--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have a schedule, but I can write…" description: "\"I don't have a schedule, but I can write for hours non-stop. If I'm drafting a book, I try and do a chapter a day. I dislike first drafts. Revision is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/sefi-atta-22130_book_i-don-t-have-a-schedule-but-i-can-write_1086936.jpg" --- # I don't have a schedule, but I can write for hours… ![“I don't have a schedule, but I can write for hours non-stop. If I'm drafting a book, I try and do a chapter a day. I dislike first drafts. Revision is a lot more fun, but it takes years.” quote by Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/sefi-atta-22130_book_i-don-t-have-a-schedule-but-i-can-write_1086936.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/sefi-atta-22130_book_i-don-t-have-a-schedule-but-i-can-write_1086936.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/436/sefi-atta-22130_book_i-don-t-have-a-schedule-but-i-can-write_1086936.jpg) > “I don't have a schedule, but I can write for hours non-stop. If I'm drafting a book, I try and do a chapter a day. I dislike first drafts. Revision is a lot more fun, but it takes years.” [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The writer thrives on long, uninterrupted sessions, aiming for daily chapter output, preferring revision over first drafts. **In simple terms:** Writer works best in long bursts, targets daily chapters, enjoys revising. Key Takeaway Embrace focused writing sessions. Themes productivity writing revision discipline Mood determined reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - author interviews - writing workshops - personal productivity Key Concepts creative process habit formation time management Questions to Reflect On - How can you structure your day for deep work? - What strategies improve revision? A Different Perspective First drafts can be messy and time‑consuming. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Chapters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chapters/) [Dislike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dislike/) [Drafting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drafting/) [Drafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drafts/) [Drafts Revision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drafts-revision-2788659/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hours/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Non stop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-stop/) [Revision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revision/) [Schedule Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schedule-write-2788658/) [Schedules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schedules/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Write Hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-hours-326408/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [No strict schedule, but I write nearly daily in my journal. Sometimes I go back and pull out things to give to my characters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-bradby/no-strict-schedule-but-i-write-nearly-daily-in-my-journal-sometimes-i/) [Marie Bradby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-bradby/) > [I write a ridiculous number of drafts. The characters change and grow through the drafting, and my understanding of them deepens. Creating characters in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-boswell/i-write-a-ridiculous-number-of-drafts-the-characters-change-and-grow/) [Robert Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-boswell/) > [I enjoy writing plays most. I haven't written a radio play in a while and I don't write short stories anymore because the process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-enjoy-writing-plays-most-i-haven-t-written-a-radio-play-in-a-while/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I work a lot in the summers. My family goes to Maine, where we have a little house. My wife's a writer, too, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-marcus/i-work-a-lot-in-the-summers-my-family-goes-to-maine-where-we-have-a/) [Ben Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-marcus/) > [“She discovered what most writers insist is true nowadays, which is that they can only write for three hours a day at the most,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/she-discovered-what-most-writers-insist-is-true-nowadays-which-is/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [I'm almost back to being able to write as much as six hours a day .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-larbalestier/i-m-almost-back-to-being-able-to-write-as-much-as-six-hours-a-day/) [Justine Larbalestier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-larbalestier/) > [Had I mentioned to someone around 1795 that I planned to write, anyone with any sense would have told me to write for two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-vila-matas/had-i-mentioned-to-someone-around-1795-that-i-planned-to-write-anyone/) [Enrique Vila-Matas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-vila-matas/) > [For me, I need to fully immerse myself in a script to the point where I'm literally locking myself away for weeks at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-winter/for-me-i-need-to-fully-immerse-myself-in-a-script-to-the-point-where/) [Terence Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-winter/) > [I like to write in the mornings, so I try to protect 9 A.M. - 12 P.M. for me. I can drop our older…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brunt/i-like-to-write-in-the-mornings-so-i-try-to-protect-9-a-m-12-p-m-for/) [Douglas Brunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brunt/) > [After film school, I would write 8 hours a day on film and 8 hours a night on TV, and then sleep once and a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lindholm/after-film-school-i-would-write-8-hours-a-day-on-film-and-8-hours-a/) [Tobias Lindholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lindholm/) > [I'm always amazed by those people who get up at 5 and write till 8 and then eat a peach and walk their canary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/i-m-always-amazed-by-those-people-who-get-up-at-5-and-write-till-8/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [I had a series of terrible jobs, whatever would allow me to write for four hours during the day. During that time I wrote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/i-had-a-series-of-terrible-jobs-whatever-would-allow-me-to-write-for/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [January 8 has been a lucky day for me. I have started all my books on that day, and all of them have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/january-8-has-been-a-lucky-day-for-me-i-have-started-all-my-books-on/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [I jog in the morning and then write for about two hours. There are times when I'm really excited and can't wait to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-sachar/i-jog-in-the-morning-and-then-write-for-about-two-hours-there-are/) [Louis Sachar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-sachar/) > [So many wonderful books to write, and not enough hours in the day. An embarrassment of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/so-many-wonderful-books-to-write-and-not-enough-hours-in-the-day-an/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More by Sefi Atta > [I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I wanted to share so I learnt how to write and kept going.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-writer-i-just-had-stories-i-wanted-to-share-so/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [ I always begin \[a novel\] with outlines, but they change and so do my endings and beginnings. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-always-begin-a-novel-with-outlines-but-they-change-and-so-do-my/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [For all forms, writing dialogue is almost like writing music. I pay close attention to rhythms and tones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/for-all-forms-writing-dialogue-is-almost-like-writing-music-i-pay/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I get stage fright with short stories. For me it feels like standup comedy: kill or die. I'm more confident when I begin a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-get-stage-fright-with-short-stories-for-me-it-feels-like-standup/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I have to say that writing about my writing process is more daunting than writing non-fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-have-to-say-that-writing-about-my-writing-process-is-more-daunting/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [“She says the lesson to learn is that the world is round, which means that if I run too fast I might end up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/she-says-the-lesson-to-learn-is-that-the-world-is-round-which-means/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I'm addicted to writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-m-addicted-to-writing/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > ['ve had notebooks, but they are nondescript. All I care about is that they fit in my hand. I scribble down ideas. The problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/ve-had-notebooks-but-they-are-nondescript-all-i-care-about-is-that/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [What works for me is that I read widely and stay focused on my writing. I'm no longer concerned about what happens in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/what-works-for-me-is-that-i-read-widely-and-stay-focused-on-my/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [“She drinks her Eva water. Their parents were taken down by cancer, heart attacks and strokes. Respectable diseases.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/she-drinks-her-eva-water-their-parents-were-taken-down-by-cancer/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I don't remember being a keen reader, but apparently I was. My aunt told me that whenever I was teased for reading, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-don-t-remember-being-a-keen-reader-but-apparently-i-was-my-aunt/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I don't write non-fiction because I get bored. Some of my writing is autobiographical, but not the way readers imagine. I use my memory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-don-t-write-non-fiction-because-i-get-bored-some-of-my-writing-is/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I read Macbeth as a secondary student in Nigeria and it was like an African play to me. It had all the right elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-read-macbeth-as-a-secondary-student-in-nigeria-and-it-was-like-an/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I'm always working on something new and while I'm working, I'm absorbed with my characters, their conflicts,my language and settings. I'm in another place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-m-always-working-on-something-new-and-while-i-m-working-i-m/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) > [I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I needed to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sefi-atta/i-never-wanted-to-be-a-writer-i-just-had-stories-i-needed-to-tell/) [Sefi Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) [Explore all 28 Sefi Atta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sefi-atta/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't have a schedule, but I can write for hours non-stop. 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