--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was 12 and read my first romance novel…" description: "\"I was 12 and read my first romance novel; it was a sweeping desert saga, and I got to the end of it and was like, 'I want to go back and start all over..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sylvia-day-563_books_i-was-12-and-read-my-first-romance-novel_1262005.png" --- # I was 12 and read my first romance novel; it was a… ![“I was 12 and read my first romance novel; it was a sweeping desert saga, and I got to the end of it and was like, 'I want to go back and start all over again!' That emotional response to the book and getting to the end of a story you love is what inspires me to write the next book.” quote by Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sylvia-day-563_books_i-was-12-and-read-my-first-romance-novel_1262005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sylvia-day-563_books_i-was-12-and-read-my-first-romance-novel_1262005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05a/sylvia-day-563_books_i-was-12-and-read-my-first-romance-novel_1262005.png) > “I was 12 and read my first romance novel; it was a sweeping desert saga, and I got to the end of it and was like, 'I want to go back and start all over again!' That emotional response to the book and getting to the end of a story you love is what inspires me to write the next book.” [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finishing a beloved story triggers a desire to recreate its emotional impact in new work. **In simple terms:** Ending a story inspires new creation. Key Takeaway Channel that feeling into your own writing. Themes inspiration creativity emotional resonance Mood reflective enthusiastic Type literary motivational When to use this quote - writing a novel - reading a favorite book - seeking creative spark Key Concepts narrative cycles authorial motivation Questions to Reflect On - What emotions does a story's ending evoke in you? - How can you transform that longing into fresh narratives? A Different Perspective The longing may stem from nostalgia rather than original ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Inspires Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspires-write-1224652/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-is/) [Read Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/read-romance-537288/) [Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance/) [Romance novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-novel/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-love/) [Write Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-book/) ## Related quotes > [I still read romance, and I read suspense. I read them both. 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I just want him to appreciate me as a person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/who-inspires-me-to-write-my-clone-i-just-want-him-to-appreciate-me-as/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [What inspires me most to write is the act of traveling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-a-obreht/what-inspires-me-most-to-write-is-the-act-of-traveling/) [Tea Obreht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-a-obreht/) > [So much of my own life inspires what I write. Whether it's work, family, friends, motherhood, I am a writer who tends to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-weisberger/so-much-of-my-own-life-inspires-what-i-write-whether-it-s-work-family/) [Lauren Weisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-weisberger/) > [When you go on tour and see everyone, you're like, "Oh my god. This is actually real life." That inspires me to write more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-nesbitt/when-you-go-on-tour-and-see-everyone-you-re-like-oh-my-god-this-is/) [Nina Nesbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-nesbitt/) ## More by Sylvia Day > [There are millions of people who think that romance isn't real writing. But the only person who can make you real, make your books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/there-are-millions-of-people-who-think-that-romance-isn-t-real/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“Eva," she said exasperated. "You should've established a personal style by now-and it shouldn't be sweats!" Monica, Eva Tramell's mother, in "Reflected in You”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/eva-she-said-exasperated-you-should-ve-established-a-personal-style/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [I’ve died and gone to heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-ve-died-and-gone-to-heaven/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [Why can men be boys all of their lives, but we women must grow old while we are yet young?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/why-can-men-be-boys-all-of-their-lives-but-we-women-must-grow-old/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“I don't know what the fuck you think you're doing, ace, but this Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde shit ain't cutting it with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-don-t-know-what-the-fuck-you-think-you-re-doing-ace-but-this-dr/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [What would I do without you? You're never going to find out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/what-would-i-do-without-you-you-re-never-going-to-find-out/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“this isn't me running away, I'm just leaving”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/this-isn-t-me-running-away-i-m-just-leaving/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [I love digital books. And I actually started digital-first publishing back in 2005.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/i-love-digital-books-and-i-actually-started-digital-first-publishing/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“You're the greatest risk I've ever taken. And the greatest reward. -- Gideon to Eva”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/you-re-the-greatest-risk-i-ve-ever-taken-and-the-greatest-reward/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“You're so brave, Eva. So strong and honest. You're a miracle. My miracle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/you-re-so-brave-eva-so-strong-and-honest-you-re-a-miracle-my-miracle/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [Until you, I didn't consider my past as an issue. Yes, it affected certain ways I did things, but everything had its place and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/until-you-i-didn-t-consider-my-past-as-an-issue-yes-it-affected/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [There was always something hidden. Lying in wait to spring up and ruin everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/there-was-always-something-hidden-lying-in-wait-to-spring-up-and-ruin/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [Doctor." Gideon set one ankle on the opposite knee and settled back, creating a picture of unyielding decisiveness. "The only way I'm keeping my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/doctor-gideon-set-one-ankle-on-the-opposite-knee-and-settled-back/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [“there were indeed some shades of pleasure that could be colored only by another hand”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/there-were-indeed-some-shades-of-pleasure-that-could-be-colored-only/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) > [Day One of my life was the day I met you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/day-one-of-my-life-was-the-day-i-met-you/) [Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) [Explore all 440 Sylvia Day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/) ## More Books 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/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [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/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [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/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) [Christopher K. 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