--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first time I tried to write was when…" description: "\"The first time I tried to write was when I was 14, after I got an electric guitar. I put a song together, and it wasn't that bad! The writing came natu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/tom-petty-2030_after_the-first-time-i-tried-to-write-was-when_2198280.png" --- # The first time I tried to write was when I was 14, after I… ![“The first time I tried to write was when I was 14, after I got an electric guitar. I put a song together, and it wasn't that bad! The writing came natural to me.” quote by Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/tom-petty-2030_after_the-first-time-i-tried-to-write-was-when_2198280.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/tom-petty-2030_after_the-first-time-i-tried-to-write-was-when_2198280.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/tom-petty-2030_after_the-first-time-i-tried-to-write-was-when_2198280.png) > “The first time I tried to write was when I was 14, after I got an electric guitar. I put a song together, and it wasn't that bad! The writing came natural to me.” [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early creative spark can emerge unexpectedly, and confidence grows with initial success. **In simple terms:** First attempts can feel natural and encouraging. Key Takeaway Embrace early opportunities and trust your instincts. Themes creativity confidence growth Mood optimistic inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - songwriting - learning new skills - youthful projects - self‑expression Key Concepts self‑efficacy artistic development Questions to Reflect On - What early experience sparked your passion? - How do you sustain momentum? A Different Perspective It may ignore later challenges and the need for practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [After](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/came/) [Electric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric/) [Electric guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric-guitar/) [First](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [I tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-tried/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried/) [Tried Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-write/) [Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write/) [Write 14](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-14-567472/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Came](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-came-1233965/) ## Related quotes > [When you can't read or write at 14 or 15, in most cases you're headed for trouble, and trouble was finding me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-beamon/when-you-can-t-read-or-write-at-14-or-15-in-most-cases-you-re-headed/) [Bob Beamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-beamon/) > [I had to have experience, you know what I mean? Because I've been doing this since I was 14... I couldn't write about anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mnek/i-had-to-have-experience-you-know-what-i-mean-because-i-ve-been-doing/) [MNEK](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mnek/) > [Well I tried to, but I could never write anything that I liked or was worthwhile. I threw it all out and realized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/well-i-tried-to-but-i-could-never-write-anything-that-i-liked-or-was/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [My parents got me a $25 Kent steel-string acoustic guitar when I was around 12. The following Christmas, my parents bought me a Conora…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/my-parents-got-me-a-25-kent-steel-string-acoustic-guitar-when-i-was/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [The electric guitar was vital in helping what I've achieved where would I be without it? Playing awfully quietly, for a start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/the-electric-guitar-was-vital-in-helping-what-i-ve-achieved-where/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [When I first started playing, I definitely had a younger scum-punk crowd, but as my music developed more and after I started playing electric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-loveless/when-i-first-started-playing-i-definitely-had-a-younger-scum-punk/) [Lydia Loveless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-loveless/) > [I don't touch electric guitars. It's just not my thing - I stick with acoustic guitars only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-don-t-touch-electric-guitars-it-s-just-not-my-thing-i-stick-with/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [If the person who can effectively sanction ill-conceived wars can play the electric guitar, which is a symbol of rebellion, then that whole worldview…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/if-the-person-who-can-effectively-sanction-ill-conceived-wars-can/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [All I want for Christmas is a rock n roll electric guitar...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-rock-n-roll-electric-guitar/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [I've just been recording mostly acoustic stuff, drums, and sax, and electric guitar. I'm just still writing songs and what not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-ve-just-been-recording-mostly-acoustic-stuff-drums-and-sax-and/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [... Charlie Christians' contributions to the electric guitar are as big as Thomas Edisons' contributions to the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-kessel/charlie-christians-contributions-to-the-electric-guitar-are-as-big-as/) [Barney Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-kessel/) > [Technology was something I avoided when I started out - I didn't even have electric guitars. Only played acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/technology-was-something-i-avoided-when-i-started-out-i-didn-t-even/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [There are tons of people in the West who love fiddles, banjos and mandolins. If you got to any cowboy poetry and music gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-murphey/there-are-tons-of-people-in-the-west-who-love-fiddles-banjos-and/) [Michael Martin Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-murphey/) > [The use of electronics is a natural extension of the instrument - it is an electric guitar. So we guitarists have been plugging into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brady/the-use-of-electronics-is-a-natural-extension-of-the-instrument-it-is/) [Tim Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brady/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## More by Tom Petty > [Where the sky begins, the horizon ends, despite the best intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/where-the-sky-begins-the-horizon-ends-despite-the-best-intentions/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [As time goes by, you seem to weed out the things that were making your life hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/as-time-goes-by-you-seem-to-weed-out-the-things-that-were-making-your/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I would never put my songs in a commercial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-would-never-put-my-songs-in-a-commercial/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Take back your insurance, baby, nothing is guaranteed. Take back your acid rain, let your TV bleed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/take-back-your-insurance-baby-nothing-is-guaranteed-take-back-your/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [The great thing about the Wilburys was that none of us had to take the heat by ourselves. I was just a member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/the-great-thing-about-the-wilburys-was-that-none-of-us-had-to-take/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I don't believe in censorship, but I do believe that an artist has to take some moral responsibility for what he or she is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-don-t-believe-in-censorship-but-i-do-believe-that-an-artist-has-to/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Any time you're making a living at what you love to do, you're blessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/any-time-you-re-making-a-living-at-what-you-love-to-do-you-re-blessed/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [A rebel without a clue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/a-rebel-without-a-clue/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [If you look around at America, that's one of its biggest problems is you have corporations that can never be pleased at a profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/if-you-look-around-at-america-that-s-one-of-its-biggest-problems-is/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Even the losers get lucky sometimes. Even the losers keep a little bit of pride. They get lucky sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/even-the-losers-get-lucky-sometimes-even-the-losers-keep-a-little-bit/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [If you stretch your imagination, I'll tell you all a tale, about a time when everything wasn't up for sale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/if-you-stretch-your-imagination-i-ll-tell-you-all-a-tale-about-a-time/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [Buy me a drink, sing me a song; take me as I come, cause I can't stay long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/buy-me-a-drink-sing-me-a-song-take-me-as-i-come-cause-i-can-t-stay/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I never could have dreamed that her heart was so wicked, but I keep coming back because it's so hard to kick it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-never-could-have-dreamed-that-her-heart-was-so-wicked-but-i-keep/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [She's a good girl, crazy about Elvis, loves horses, and her boyfriend, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/she-s-a-good-girl-crazy-about-elvis-loves-horses-and-her-boyfriend-too/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I'm more interested in what I'm going to leave behind me than in making a big hit record. I've refined what I do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/i-m-more-interested-in-what-i-m-going-to-leave-behind-me-than-in/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) [Explore all 190 Tom Petty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) [Deke Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-richards/) > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) [Bert Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-lahr/) > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I'd like an omelet named after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-d-like-an-omelet-named-after-me/) [Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/) [Browse all 3,411 After quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The first time I tried to write was when I was 14, after I got an electric guitar. I put a song together, and it wasn't that bad! 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