--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Writing is very hard work and knowing…" description: "\"Writing is very hard work and knowing what you're doing the whole time.\" — Shelby Foote" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/shelby-foote-13013_hard_writing-is-very-hard-work-and-knowing-wh_2695949.png" --- # Writing is very hard work and knowing what you're doing… ![“Writing is very hard work and knowing what you're doing the whole time.” quote by Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/shelby-foote-13013_hard_writing-is-very-hard-work-and-knowing-wh_2695949.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/shelby-foote-13013_hard_writing-is-very-hard-work-and-knowing-wh_2695949.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/66f/shelby-foote-13013_hard_writing-is-very-hard-work-and-knowing-wh_2695949.png) > “Writing is very hard work and knowing what you're doing the whole time.” [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing demands sustained effort and constant self‑awareness of purpose and technique. **In simple terms:** Writing is hard and needs focus. Key Takeaway Commit to disciplined practice. Themes writing effort self‑awareness Mood determined reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - authoring a novel - daily journaling - academic paper - blog post - scriptwriting Key Concepts craftsmanship focus Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain focus during long projects? - What strategies keep you motivated? A Different Perspective Even with effort, inspiration may still be elusive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowing Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing-doing/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Work Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-knowing-789563/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-hard/) ## Related quotes > [“1:145-146 NO SURE SENSE Say: No one knows the unseen except God (27:65). With that text I put this question: How do you feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bahauddin/1-145-146-no-sure-sense-say-no-one-knows-the-unseen-except-god-27-65/) [Bahauddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bahauddin/) > [There's nothing worse than finding yourself in a situation, a very demanding piece of work, and knowing that you're not a true ally to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/there-s-nothing-worse-than-finding-yourself-in-a-situation-a-very/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [You come to work knowing you're going to do good work without any doubt. You can go where you need to go and nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/you-come-to-work-knowing-you-re-going-to-do-good-work-without-any/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [“Knowledge is power: You hear it all the time but knowledge is not power. It's only potential power. It only becomes power when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-kwik/knowledge-is-power-you-hear-it-all-the-time-but-knowledge-is-not/) [Jim Kwik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-kwik/) > [“Knowing something is not enough, doing something with what you know is the key. After all, that’s where wisdom comes from.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-g-roldan/knowing-something-is-not-enough-doing-something-with-what-you-know-is/) [Alexis G. Roldan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-g-roldan/) > [Writing is hard work; it's also the best job I've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/writing-is-hard-work-it-s-also-the-best-job-i-ve-ever-had/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) > [Writing is hard work, not magic. It begins with deciding why you are writing and whom you are writing for. What is your intent?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/writing-is-hard-work-not-magic-it-begins-with-deciding-why-you-are/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [“Accomplishing is the combination of learning what to do, knowing how to do, and then doing until it's done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accomplishing-is-the-combination-of-learning-what-to-do-knowing-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/risk-comes-from-not-knowing-what-you-re-doing/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [You must elect your work; you shall take what your brains can, and drop all the rest. Only so can that amount of vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/you-must-elect-your-work-you-shall-take-what-your-brains-can-and-drop/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“If you want to feel and know everything the horse is doing, begin by feeling and knowing everything you are doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-louise-birmingham/if-you-want-to-feel-and-know-everything-the-horse-is-doing-begin-by/) [Catherine Louise Birmingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-louise-birmingham/) > [It not knowing what to do, it's doing what you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/it-not-knowing-what-to-do-it-s-doing-what-you-know/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Life is about not knowing and then doing something anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/life-is-about-not-knowing-and-then-doing-something-anyway/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [“You can't get there by bus, only by hard work, risking, and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/you-can-t-get-there-by-bus-only-by-hard-work-risking-and-by-not-quite/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [“I want to affirm that thinking and living, knowing and doing, theory and practice intersect.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/namsoon-kang/i-want-to-affirm-that-thinking-and-living-knowing-and-doing-theory/) [Namsoon Kang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/namsoon-kang/) ## More by Shelby Foote > [A fact is not a truth until you love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/a-fact-is-not-a-truth-until-you-love-it/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Of all the passions of mankind, the love of novelty most rules the mind. In search of this, from realm to realm we roam.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/of-all-the-passions-of-mankind-the-love-of-novelty-most-rules-the/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“For my part I consider the central idea pervading this struggle is the necessity that is upon us of proving that popular government is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/for-my-part-i-consider-the-central-idea-pervading-this-struggle-is/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I think making mistakes and discovering them for yourself is of great value, but to have someone else to point out your mistakes is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-think-making-mistakes-and-discovering-them-for-yourself-is-of-great/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I began the way nearly everybody I ever heard of - I began writing poetry. And I find that to be quite usual with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-began-the-way-nearly-everybody-i-ever-heard-of-i-began-writing/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“He is the kind of person I should expect to rescue one from a mad dog at any risk but then insist on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/he-is-the-kind-of-person-i-should-expect-to-rescue-one-from-a-mad-dog/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I never cared what kind of grade I got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-never-cared-what-kind-of-grade-i-got/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [And I'm a slow writer: five, six hundred words is a good day. That's the reason it took me 20 years to write those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/and-i-m-a-slow-writer-five-six-hundred-words-is-a-good-day-that-s-the/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [If you want to study writing, read Dickens. That's how to study writing, or Faulkner, or D.H. Lawrence, or John Keats. They can teach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/if-you-want-to-study-writing-read-dickens-that-s-how-to-study-writing/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I've never shown anybody a draft of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-ve-never-shown-anybody-a-draft-of-anything/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I ran into Ku Klux Klan and the threat of hurricanes, and those two things made me decide not to build on the Alabama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-ran-into-ku-klux-klan-and-the-threat-of-hurricanes-and-those-two/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [I took five years on the first volume, five years on the second volume, and ten years on the third volume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/i-took-five-years-on-the-first-volume-five-years-on-the-second-volume/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Grant was something rare in that or any war. He could learn from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/grant-was-something-rare-in-that-or-any-war-he-could-learn-from/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [Getting close to books, and spending time by myself, I was obliged to think about things I would never have thought about if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/getting-close-to-books-and-spending-time-by-myself-i-was-obliged-to/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) > [“Right now I'm thinking a good deal about emancipation. One of our sins was slavery, another was emancipation. It's a paradox. In theory, emancipation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelby-foote/right-now-i-m-thinking-a-good-deal-about-emancipation-one-of-our-sins/) [Shelby Foote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) [Explore all 52 Shelby Foote quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelby-foote/) ## More Hard quotes > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is hard to admit to someone that you love him..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misherie/it-is-hard-to-admit-to-someone-that-you-love-him/) [Misherie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misherie/) > [It's a hard thing to describe. It's just this sense that you got something to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/it-s-a-hard-thing-to-describe-it-s-just-this-sense-that-you-got/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [There Was Many Time I Had Wanted To Give Up In Life On So Many Things…But Naw F\*\*\* That...I'm Not Going To Never Give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/out-spoken/there-was-many-time-i-had-wanted-to-give-up-in-life-on-so-many-things/) [Out Spoken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/out-spoken/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/) [Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/) > [In our society we have hard nerds and soft nerds. The hard nerds are the ones who used to have the slide rules at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/in-our-society-we-have-hard-nerds-and-soft-nerds-the-hard-nerds-are/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Don't be afraid of hard work. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Don't let others discourage you or tell you that you can't do it. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-b-elion/don-t-be-afraid-of-hard-work-nothing-worthwhile-comes-easily-don-t/) [Gertrude B. Elion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-b-elion/) > [High school, going into my junior year, I kind of had the idea I was going to be the starting running back. 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