--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The two hardest things about writing are…" description: "\"The two hardest things about writing are starting and not stopping.\" — Stewart O'Nan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/stewart-o-nan-16780_hardest_the-two-hardest-things-about-writing-are_1070927.jpg" --- # The two hardest things about writing are starting and not… ![“The two hardest things about writing are starting and not stopping.” quote by Stewart O'Nan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/stewart-o-nan-16780_hardest_the-two-hardest-things-about-writing-are_1070927.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/stewart-o-nan-16780_hardest_the-two-hardest-things-about-writing-are_1070927.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b60/stewart-o-nan-16780_hardest_the-two-hardest-things-about-writing-are_1070927.jpg) > “The two hardest things about writing are starting and not stopping.” [Stewart O'Nan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-o-nan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is hardest at the start and when you must keep going. **In simple terms:** Starting and persisting are hardest. Key Takeaway Begin and keep writing. Themes writing creativity discipline Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - daily writing - goal setting - editing - peer feedback Key Concepts creative block habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help overcome starting block? - How can you sustain momentum? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can stall progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [The hardest thing for me about making movies, and that included 'M\*A\*S\*H' because it was made like a movie, was starting and stopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/the-hardest-thing-for-me-about-making-movies-and-that-included-m-a-s/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Writing is the starting point from which all goodness (and crappiness) flows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-kawasaki/writing-is-the-starting-point-from-which-all-goodness-and-crappiness/) [Guy Kawasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-kawasaki/) > [People are more aware now of cities and of different ways of life. I suppose the writing I do is a bit in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/people-are-more-aware-now-of-cities-and-of-different-ways-of-life-i/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [If you're writing, you're starting in private. It can really be this amazing, private, freeing experience. 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Don’t go outside!’ He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/i-was-in-good-shape-from-divergent-damien-chazelle-the-director-of/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [For a lot of women, one of the hardest things about leadership is the desire to be liked by everyone. That's often inconsistent with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-weddington/for-a-lot-of-women-one-of-the-hardest-things-about-leadership-is-the/) [Sarah Weddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-weddington/) > [Hardest emotion? They're all pretty damn hard; I don't know really if there's one specifically, but I do think, I don't know what's happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/hardest-emotion-they-re-all-pretty-damn-hard-i-don-t-know-really-if/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [In a compass, we got north, south, east and west, right? 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